ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is currently facing a controversy involving allegations of nepotism and favoritism against its Chairman, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali. According to an official source, the organization is accused of irregularities in the recruitment process, with claims that 24 vacant positions were filled by close relatives without proper advertisement or adherence to merit-based selection criteria.
Sources familiar with the matter have stated that Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali appointed his nephews, nieces, and in-laws to key positions within PARC, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. Positions such as Deputy Director HR, Assistant Director Recruitment, Assistant Director Administration, UDC, and Assistant Director Establishment were allegedly given to family members. The appointment of Maryam Nawazish, said to be the Chairman’s cousin, in the ACRC section has also raised eyebrows.
Critics argue that this pattern of favoritism undermines the principles of meritocracy and impedes the development and progress of the organization. They question why the vacant positions were not advertised, depriving qualified individuals of equal opportunities to compete for these roles.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the alleged financial benefits associated with the recruitment process. Sources claim that positions above the required grade were allegedly sold to individuals in exchange for undisclosed sums of money, raising doubts about the integrity of PARC’s appointments.
When approached for clarification, Atiq-ul-Hasan, the Public Relations Officer/Office of the Chairman of PARC, failed to provide information about the release date of the advertisement or the newspapers in which it was published, further fueling suspicions of a lack of transparency.
These revelations have triggered public outcry and calls for an independent investigation into the matter. Transparency and accountability are crucial for building trust in public institutions and ensuring a fair playing field for all qualified candidates.
As the controversy unfolds, the reputation of PARC hangs in the balance, and the Chairman faces mounting pressure to address the allegations and restore confidence in the organization’s recruitment practices. However, Chairman PARC was unavailable for comments when contacted.
