ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to approach a magistrate to get arrest warrants against the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) chief executive officer (CEO) for reluctance to appear before the investigation agency.

The case is about an application lodged against the Drap chief by Dr Muhammad Aleem Akhtar, a Drap official, claiming the authority’s CEO runs a pharma company, which is a conflict of interest.

The official filed applications with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the FIA and then approached the court, alleging that the investigation agencies were not taking action over his application.

A division bench of the Balochistan High Court, comprising Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Shoukat Ali Rakhshani, directed the FIA to submit a report by October 30. According to a court document available with Dawn, the assistant attorney general submitted a report on behalf of the FIA and stated that in pursuance of the complaint received by the FIA, notices were issued to the accused but he did not respond. In light of this refusal to join the inquiry, the FIA has decided to proceed against him by filing a complaint before the magistrate for the issuance of warrants against the Drap CEO.

Agency to approach magistrate for arrest warrants; Balochistan High Court seeks report by Oct 30

Subsequently, the court sought a report by October 30. An official of the Drap, wishing not to be named, said that the official approached the FIA and NAB, without seeking approval of the Drap and the health ministry, which was a violation of the code of conduct. He said that because of the frivolous applications, it was decided to terminate the service of the officer who levelled allegations against the CEO.

However, Dr Muhammad Aleem also challenged the termination orders in the apex court, claiming that the authority took action against him for whistleblowing.

It is worth mentioning that Drap was established under the Drap Act 2012. It is responsible for providing effective coordination and enforcement of the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976) and to bring harmony in inter-provincial trade and commerce of therapeutic goods.

Therapeutic goods regulated by Drap include pharmaceutical and biological drugs for human or veterinary use, medical devices and medical cosmetics, health, and OTC (non-drugs) also known as alternative medicines, such as Ayurvedic and homoeopathy.

Drap also ensures that therapeutic goods, approved and available in the market, meet prescribed standards of quality, safety and efficacy.

The regulatory functions performed by Drap include registration and marketing authorisation, vigilance, market surveillance and control, licencing establishments, regulatory inspection, laboratory testing, clinical trial oversight, and pharmacovigilance.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024