ISLAMABAD: The employees of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the hospital’s acting executive director (ED) for allegedly surrendering his power to appoint 350 employees to the Ministry of Health Services.

The petitioners have said the ministry had appointed the acting head who was trying to please it (ministry) rather than exercising his powers.

Advocate Imran Feroze Malik of the Supreme Court, through whom the writ petition has been filed, said a single-member bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq will hear the case on July 25.

The petition stated that the ED had the power to appoint employees from Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 1 to 16.

He stated that the ED, an officer of BPS 20 or 21, had appointed the employees for the last many decades. However, the health ministry has appointed the acting ED who was not in a position to take a stand and has handed over all the record to the ministry due to which the latter has advertised 349 posts in BPS 1 to 16 and started the process of recruitment.

The employees said while the hearing of their case in the IHC would be held on July 25, the ministry should cancel interviews of the candidates scheduled on July 24 (today).

An employee of Pims, Tanveer Noshahi, while talking to Dawn said they will continue their struggle for their rights.

Advocate Malik said the petition had been filed to stop the ministry from the process of appointment.

“Moreover, we have informed the court that as the ED is working on ad hoc basis he cannot take a stand over violation of rules. During the hearing of the petition, we will also request the court to give a direction for the appointment of a permanent head of the hospital,” he said.

Pims put on high alert

In another development, Pims has been put on high alert due to unexpected torrential rains in the region and the city.

“ED Rana Imran Sikander has directed all employees to remain on their toes due to possibility of accidents. Moreover, additional medicines have been provided in the emergency department,” ED’s spokesperson Dr Mubashir Mushtaq Daha said.

He said the number of patients suffering from diarrhoea was also increasing. He suggested that people should avoid unhygienic and junk food.

It may be recalled that that last week a wall of an underpass collapsed during heavy rain near Golra Mor leaving around a dozen people dead.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2023