A single bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Justice Athar Minallah has ordered immediate removal of the CEO Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and asked the government to appoint another officer in his place on merit.
According to the details government has appointed Muhammad Aslam Afghani, a director of a multinational pharmaceutical company as CEO of DRAP on hefty perks and privileges.
The appointment was not taken well in the pharma industry and Mirza Abdul Rehman who has served as VP of FPCCI, President Attock Chamber and Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on Pharmaceuticals challenged the appointment of Mr. Afghani in IHC through Rai Ali Nawaz Kharal Advocate.
In his petition he prayed before the court that the appointment of DRAP was against the rules and regulations, procedure was violated for his appointment, it is a case of conflict of interest and against the Supreme Court’s verdict in Ashraf Tawana case.
The court heard the arguments from both sides and decided in favour of the petitioner directing advocate general for removal of the CEO of DRAP from the date of his appointment, fresh appointment on merit.
Mirza Abdul Rehman said that Afghani was appointed against a salary of one and a half million rupees per month and other benefits and he worked against the local pharma companies while giving undue benefits to the multinationals.
