ISLAMABAD: While the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has remained embroiled in controversy for the last six months and two batches of employees have been dismissed, IHRA Chairman Dr Riaz Shahbaz Janjua has claimed he will ensure the issues are addressed.

After the completion of the tenure of former IHRA CEO Dr Quaid Saeed, Dr Janjua was appointed as the new CEO.

Initially, around a dozen employees who were hired by the previous management were terminated, and new appointments were made.

However, IHRA later dismissed almost a dozen employees hired by the new management, alleging their performance was unsatisfactory and that some lacked the required experience and qualifications.

Some employees, while speaking to Dawn, said that in February and March 2025, the IHRA Board appointed several individuals as assistant directors and deputy directors following a major restructuring phase, during which many employees from the previous administration were removed.

“However, these new appointments were made without following the proper hiring procedures and without forming an Internal Scrutiny Committee, a basic requirement to verify candidates’ eligibility based on written and approved criteria such as qualifications, experience and age,” one employee said.

“Due to the absence of this committee, fair shortlisting was not conducted. Despite this, interviews were held and appointments were made in a rushed manner. Later, when issues began to emerge, IHRA abruptly terminated or withdrew the probation of around a dozen newly hired employees,” he added.

Another employee said that several professionals had resigned from their previous positions to join the authority.

“We were working in reputable organisations and left stable jobs, relocating in good faith to join IHRA. Instead of taking responsibility for the flawed hiring process, IHRA tried to shift the blame onto the newly appointed professionals to cover up its own mismanagement. Later, the same positions were re-advertised on the National Job Portal, this time with a scrutiny committee and revised eligibility criteria,” he said.

“On the other hand, appointment letters could not be issued to those who were retained by IHRA, even though they fulfilled all the requirements,” he added.

“The matter must be thoroughly investigated. Those who were wrongfully terminated deserve justice, and those responsible for procedural violations and favouritism must be held accountable to restore faith in public sector recruitment,” a dismissed employee said.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2025