Daily Times

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a leading humanitarian organisation of the country founded by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah soon after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, is facing allegations of ‘nepotism’ and ‘favouritism’ in appointment of officials on key posts.

Though considered to be the largest entity after the government institutions to act in the advent of any natural calamities, the organisation has been facing allegations of mismanagement and wastage of precious resources at the hands of officials working on key posts allegedly appointed ‘on the basis of personal likes and dislikes’.

A few days back, the Managing Body of the PRCS mysteriously raised the upper age limit for the position of the secretary general from 60 years to 65 years. “The Managing Body has approved the extension in upper age limit from 60 years to 65 years for the position of Secretary General,” a press release issued by the PRCS after the meeting had read.

While 60 years is the age of superannuation in almost all of the government and semi-government organisations in Pakistan, raising the upper age limit for the coveted position is being seen as an attempt to ‘accommodate’ another ‘blue-eyed’ to the post that has traditionally been occupied by the people retired from the armed forces or bureaucracy instead of the development sector professionals. “ToRs are routinely tailored here according to the qualification and experience of the person who is to be accommodated on any given post,” sources within the organisation told Daily Times on the condition of anonymity.

Post for ‘security manager’ unusually requires experience in audit and accounts

In another case, an advertisement recently appeared on the website of the PRCS for the vacancy of ‘Safety and Security Manager’. According to the ‘position objectives’ mentioned in the ad, the hired person was supposed to ‘coordinate security risk assessments, draft safety and security regulations and develop trainings for rolling out of security regulations’. However, interestingly, the educational qualification for the post was spelled out as ‘masters in social sciences or management’, which is quite irrelevant to this specific, technical and rather sensitive job. More interestingly, according to the advertisement, the appropriate person was required to have ‘audit and accounts’ experience as well.

“Why a safety and security manager needs to have experience in audit and accounts? How are they relevant to each other? It appears that the match is once again fixed,” the sources said, lamenting that the ‘incapable political appointees’ have ruined the very structure of a highly reputed organisation.

Managing Body increases upper age limit for post of secretary general to 65 years to ‘accommodate a blue-eyed person’

When asked, PRCS Spokesman Rehan Ali dispelled the impression that increase in upper age limit for the position of secretary general or apparent contradictions in the advertisement for the post of security manager were to benefit some specific persons. “The proposal to increase age limit was floated in the Managing Body meeting … and they approved it. That’s it,” he said.

When contacted, PRCS Vice-Chairman Naguib Ullah Malik said a well-experienced person below the age of 60 years was not available in the market, hence the age limit was enhanced. However, he did not explain as to how the PRCS came to such a conclusion since no formal exercise was ever conducted to fill the post, and that why discrimination was being meted out to other senior and internationally trained officials at the PRCS who were still supposed to retire at 60.

When contacted, PRCS Treasurer Mumtaz Haider Rizvi said he couldn’t adequately comment on the matter since he was not present at the meeting. However, a recheck of the facts revealed that he was very much present at the meeting as his name was mentioned as a participant in the press release issued by the organisation after the meeting and he can also be seen in a picture released thereafter. Stating something that is untrue by a senior member of the managing body, which is reportedly working on an extension granted by former president Mamnoon Hussain, has raised serious questions on the dignity, credibility and transparency of the premier development institution of the country.

Federal health secretary says action will be taken if any irregularity found after probe

Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Secretary Captain (r) Zahid Saeed said though he is a member of the Managing Body but he couldn’t attend the last week’s meeting. He said he came to know about the development through media. When asked if the move to raise upper age limit is an attempt to accommodate some blue-eyed official, he said, “I have no information in this regard at this moment. But, now when the issue has come to our knowledge, we are ascertaining the facts and if any irregularity or illegality is found, we will definitely take action.”

Reports had recently emerged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abrarul Haq was being appointed to the post of PRCS chairman in place of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Dr Saeed Elahi, who has occupied the post since March 2014. However, no notification in this regard has been issued so far.