[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch is under fire for appointing an allegedly corrupt officer to a number of top positions, including Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).
According to authorities, the individual in question, Dr. Hafeez Ullah Khan, has a history of corruption and record tampering. The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Pakistan Science Foundation have clashed over the issue, with the incumbent Chairman, Dr. Shahid Baig, refusing to step down.
According to the Pakistan Science Foundation, the Ministry of Science and Technology has no jurisdiction in the appointment of the PSF Chairman; only the Prime Minister can make that decision, and only the senior most person in the foundation can be nominated to the job.
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Dr. Khan is also in charge of two other federal agencies, the Pakistan Council of Science and Technology (PCST) and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
“Appointments in the ministry were already taking place that needed to be completed, and no appointment was made in violation of the rules and procedures.” When asked about the subject, Director to Minister stated, “It is not the media’s job to question the appointments.”
It should be mentioned that Dr. Khan was fired in 2016 on charges of corruption and record manipulation. Following an extensive investigation, the Science Foundation Board fired him. In 2021, the Science Foundation’s inactive Board reinstated him in violation of the rules.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
