Appointment of candidate from KP on Gilgit-Baltistan based post challenged in court
Islamabad, March 6: Dr. Zaeem Zia, an activist from Gilgit-Baltistan, has filed a Writ-Petition against the Director General (DG) Health Pakistan for allegedly appointing an ineligible candidate from KPK against a position announced for Gilgit-Baltistan in the National TB Control Program. Dr. Zaeem from Gilgit-Baltistan is a Fulbright Scholar, having studied Health Administration Policy from Oklahoma University and Johns Hopkins University Petition.
The writ petition was filed in the Chief Court of Gilgit-Baltistan against DG Health Dr. Aurangzeb Aurakzai, the TB Control Programme’s Manager Human Resources and the ‘illegally appointed’ candidate.
Dr Zia has pleaded to the court to void the appointment letter of the non local candidate against a position for locals of GB.
According to reports, the National TB Central office had advertised a number of positions in TB control program for Gilgit-Baltistan and other provinces. The candidates of GB had to travel to Islamabad for their interviews while other provinces hosted their interviews in their own capitals for the convenience of their candidates. Many candidates from GB reached Islamabad for the interview, however many of them were disqualified.
Dr. Zaeem, a candidate from GB was short listed and interviewed. That it is important to mention here that under the advertisement, that following were the mandatory requirements, i.e. Age limit maximum 50 years; The applicant must have the degree of MBBS with MPH/DTCD, The applicant must be proficient and posses excellent command on the local Languages of the Gilgit Batlistan. The applicant must possess three years of Experience in public health along with computer skills and Ms Office works.
Furthermore it is important to mention here that the candidate from KPK, reportedly, lacked many important and necessary conditions given in the advertisement. Being a local of Khybar-Pakhtunkhawa province the appointed candidate is not reportedly familiar with the local languages, culture, geography. These conditions were mandatory parts of the eligibility criteria.
Also, it is being said that the selected candidate does not have relevant experience in Program management and has no prior experience in TB control.
The petitioner has prayed to the court to cancel the illegal appointment and appoint a local candidate instead.
The Young Doctors Association on the other hand has vowed to fight for the rights of local officers in Gilgit-Baltistan and they called for an emergency meeting. They also threatened to go on strike against DG health Islamabad for the his biases against people of Gilgit-Baltsistan. Locals in Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned about injustices they had been facing in the past. The matter is taking a serious turn.
