Daily Times

The current Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was appointed in April 2015 . He is serving in PAEC for the last 46 years and has remained on many key positions during his service. He joined PAEC on November 18, 1972. He has generally served in supporting analytical labs. He was previously working in the capacity of member fuel cycle in PAEC.

Mr Chairman did not bring to his key assignments rich academic accomplishments, not wealth of professional experience and not an unwavering commitment. He is above 70, and has a lack of international exposure. He enjoyed superior status along with superior financial benefits with repeated extensions as member and now as chairman PAEC. He cannot take decisions independently, cannot work under pressure, fully dependent on others and survived on the working of others. There is frustration in officers to see such appointments and extensions. He is as a chairman of PAEC, an unmerited candidate and is the chairman just because of his links with appointing authorities and enjoying this status at the cost of other scientists and engineers.

In general, there is a policy and practice in PAEC to cheat appointing authorities in the name of continuity by delaying projects to get extensions beside a large number of young scientists and engineers keeping their degrees in their hands are wandering here and there for work but in vain because of these illegal decisions. He is riding on the other’s shoulders and cashed scientific and technical developments of other scientist and engineers .He did not run or lead any research project, did not design any strategic project, did not deliver any material as scientist, rather he is simply an analytical chemist and can provide supporting analytical services which is part of routine lab work.

Mr. Chairman does not possess qualification and skills crucial to the strategic programs. His past contribution and usefulness to national programs is not indispensable and his extension is not absolutely necessary for the sustenance of operational needs. It is also clarified that the skills and knowledge in possession of this Chairman is available from any other engineer or scientist. It is important to note here that research work or lab work in PAEC is based on teamwork and multi-layered. Working in PAEC is designed on groups, a group is managed by a group head or a manager having sufficient number of scientist /engineers /technicians and other staff members necessary for a specified assignments, groups are managed by a director, groups of directors are managed by a director general, groups of director generals and senior directors are managed by a member and groups of members are managed by a chairman. The question here is that equal system must be applied for all employees, with the retirement age of 60 , but those having links with appointing authorities enjoy extensions in the name of continuity. It is precisely the rich and experienced chairman PAEC will provide backbone and enable the country’s nuclear deterrence to develop and consolidate under all odds. He must be young, energetic, competent, have rich R&D experience, well-educated and on merit.

Mr Chairman joined PAEC as assistant scientific officer on the basis of his poor academic record. He doesnot possess a PhD, nor has he ever led any R&D groups or centres. He is a political appointment, who became chairman PAEC on the recommendation of ex-prime minister of Pakistan

The extension of this Chairman may please be withdrawn immediately. He has always not done justice across the board but has pushed his own personal wishes when making new and key appointments.

Mr. Chairman joined PAEC as assistant scientific officer on the basis of his poor academic record. He does not possess a PhD, nor has he ever led any R&D groups or centres. He is a political appointment, who became chairman PAEC on the recommendation of ex-prime minister of Pakistan.

As Chairman PAEC, he did not act and manage a matter of common citizens of Pakistan in which cancer patients were cheated and their quality of lives were damaged in the name of diagnosis / treatment on payments by Pakistan Institute Of Nuclear Science And Technology,(PINSTECH). They cheated thousands of patients exclusively cancer patients in the name of nuclear medicine diagnosis. PINSTECH has supplied a number of cancers diagnostic injections (Tc-generator) to various hospitals on payments were contaminated with undesirable radionuclides that cause cancer such as molybdenum99, strontium99 and ruthenium103.

According to nuclear regulations the administration of higher levels of undesirable radionuclides could potentially affect health and safety as well as has adverse effect on nuclear medicine image quality. The quality control reports sent to various hospitals and PNRA were not based on the actual sample analysis but were tempered to appease high ups to get certification from PNRA and not considered patients who were suffering from cancer and pain. The scientist is privy to the actual results and their wrong portrayal in the final quality control reports sent to PNRA and hospitals. The concern is that these undesirable radionuclides irradiate blood sensible bone marrow and cause leukaemia and other blood diseases.

This is very important issue and honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan and honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan are requested to intervene at once.

The writer is a Scientist and Ex Advisor Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

Published in Daily Times, October 11^th 2018.