ISLAMABAD: The Federal Service Tribunal’s refusal to interfere in the seniority list of the Pims doctors vying for the executive director slot has paved the way for doctors belonging to the clinical cadre to become the head of one of the largest public sector hospitals.

The admin cadre at the hospital had been demanding an exclusive right to the administration posts, claiming that they had received relevant training and that only they should have the right to promotions to such posts, for instance, the executive director (ED).

They claimed a clinical doctor could not do justice to administrative posts, as such an appointment would not only affect their performance but also leave them with little time for clinical practice or teaching as faculty members.

Eventually, Pims Joint Executive Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Khan Durrani (BPS-20) filed a petition, along with others, with the FST, stating that the petitioner was an officer of the administrative cadre.

FST refuses to interfere in seniority list containing doctors from admin, clinical cadres

“After completing MBBS and joining Pims, [the] petitioner and others decided to pursue a career in public health administration and in this regard, they got their high[er] education in [the] public health administration. Consequently, we were placed in [the] administrative and general cadre of the Pims with the legitimate expectation of career growth and promotion in the same cadre till the highest post of ED. While the respondents (clinical cadre) chose clinical or teaching cadre and pursued their career in clinical or teaching and promoted as professors,” he stated.

He stated that he got promotions from BPS 18 to 20 on separate seniority lists and he was on the second spot in the seniority list. However, all of a sudden a combined provisional seniority list was circulated in which he was dropped to the 14th slot. He said the Pims ED, who has the acting charge, forwarded the case of the top three doctors, including himself, for the appointment as the permanent ED.

In response to the petition, the FST said it did not see any reasons for interference. “We see no reason to interfere in the seniority list; however, the respondents are directed to forward the working papers for consideration of promotion against the post of executive director (BS-21) of those individuals who strictly fulfill the conditions of eligibility prescribed in the Service Rules. With this direction, the appeal at hand stands disposed of.”

A doctor of the hospital, wishing not to be quoted, said that the joint seniority list was challenged in the tribunal and it was pleaded that only the admin cadre had the right to the ED post. “Now, names of clinical cadre officers can also be considered for the post. However, officers of BPS-20 should have three years [of] experience to become ED. Now the health ministry can retain the already sent summary for the appointment of the ED or can send a fresh one,” he said.

Another doctor said that there was no doubt that only Dr Muhammad Iqbal Khan Durrani had the experience to become ED and others lacked the three years of experience or relevant qualification required for the top slot.

According to the seniority list available with Dawn, Dr Tariq Iqbal is at the top of the list and Dr Rana Imran Sikander, the acting ED, is in the second spot.

The other doctors on the seniority list are Prof Dr Mazhar Badshah, Shajee Ahmed Siddiqui, Shahzad Hussain Waqar, Muhammad Amjad Chaudhary, Maqbool Hussain, Muhammad Shafique, Ayesha Isani Majeed, Naheed Fatima, Nuzhat Yasmin, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, and petitioner Dr Durrani on the 14th spot.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024