Commerce Secretary Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera has been appointed inquiry officer to investigate the charge of misappropriation against Director Budget & Accounts, Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Azhar Ali, official sources told Business Recorder.
Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is an autonomous body established under the DRAP Act, 2012(XXI of 2012). The Authority consists of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and thirteen Directors as per section-4 of the DRAP Act, 2012.
Azhar Ali was appointed as Director (Budget & Accounts) (RO-16/ equivalent BS-20) with effect from September 19, 2016, on recommendation of Policy Board and with the approval of the then Prime Minister.
The Authority in its 63rd meeting held on February 26, 2019 discussed the issues of maladministration in the Budget & Accounts Division of DRAP. The Authority has also reported to the Administrative Ministry for initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Azhar Ali, Director Budget & Accounts) Rs 0-15)- DRAP to protect the interest of the organisation.
Secretary National Health Services, Regulation& Coordination Division, in his capacity as Chairman of the Policy Board of DRAP maintains that a formal enquiry may be conducted against the officer for allegations against him. Further, he may also be removed from the position of Director (Budget & Accounts) DRAP and directed to report to Ministry so that the enquiry may be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The Regulation-10(3) of DRAP Employees Service Regulations-2015 provided that the DRAP will authorize an "Authorized Officer" to serve a show cause notice. As per schedule-1 of DRAP Employees Service Regulations-2015, the appointing authority for post of Director (RO-15) was Federal Government and the only officer in DRAP who is above the rank of (Director-15) is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)(DRAP).
The issue, however, was that CEO DRAP, being Chairman of the Authority cannot appoint himself as "Authorized Officer" due to which, it would be appropriate that in accordance with Regulation-21 of DRAP Employees Service Regulations-2015, disciplinary action against the concerned officer may be initiated under E&D Rules 1973 and in view of Regulation 10 of DRAP Employees Service Regulation, 2015, the appointing Authority in this case - the Federal Government - may appoint an Authorized Officer to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer.
Secretary, Establishment proposed that a panel of following officers of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) for consideration of Federal Cabinet for designation of one as Authorized Officer, in order to proceed against Azhar Ali, Director (Budget & Accounts), ( Rs-15/ BS-20), DRAP, Islamabad: (i) Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera PAS/BS-22), Secretary, Commerce Division, Islamabad; (ii) Rizwan Malik, PAS/BS-22), Secretary, Privatisation Commission, Islamabad; and (iii) Capt. Akbar Hussain Durrani (retired), Secretary, Inter Provincial Coordination, Islamabad.
National Health Services Regulation& Coordination Division proposed that Federal Cabinet may designate one officer from panel as Authorized Officer, in order to proceed against Azhar Ali, Director (Budget & Accounts), (RO-15/ BS-20), DRAP, Islamabad .
After detailed discussion, the name of Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, Secretary Commerce was named as the authorized officer.
The concerned officer could not be approached for comments.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019