The Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), the body responsible for regulating and formulating policies for the nursing profession, has come under scrutiny for serious irregularities, as all top officials of the council are reportedly working in violation of fundamental recruitment rules.
The President, Vice President, and Secretary are the three key positions supposed to run the affairs of the PNMC. The Vice President’s position has remained vacant for several months, while the appointments of the President and Secretary are entirely in violation of the law.
In its recent 30-page decision, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also declared the appointment of President Farzana Zulfiqar Ali “void”.
According to sources, the current Secretary, Asif Ali, is also serving in violation of the PNMC Amendment Act 2023. As per the Act, it is mandatory for the Secretary to have a nursing background and relevant qualifications. “Ali is merely a computer assistant at the council and has no connection to the nursing profession whatsoever,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
Likewise, another influential figure — Yasmin Azad — has also been appointed in violation of the rules. According to documents, Azad is a nurse and an original employee at Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad. She joined the PNMC a few years ago on deputation. She was later absorbed into the council against the post of Assistant Director (BPS-17). The PNMC Amendment Act 2023 clearly restricts such absorption in this organisation.
Well-informed sources disclosed to this correspondent that despite the completion of her deputation tenure, Azad refused to report back to her parent department and unlawfully continued her service at PNMC with the support of certain vested interests.
As per Section 10 of the PNMC Amendment Act 2023, all appointments in the Council were to be made strictly on a contractual basis. However, Ms Azad managed to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for permanent absorption into the PNMC — an act Council members are now calling “illegal and in direct violation of the law”.
Further aggravating the situation, Azad obtained a time-scale promotion without officially joining her parent department during the promotion period. Council members argue that this constitutes misuse of authority and deliberate manipulation of administrative processes.
It has also been alleged that Azad submitted a false and frivolous complaint to the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH), using it as a means to delay her repatriation and extend her stay at PNMC through administrative loopholes.
Council members have formally written to the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, requesting the cancellation of Azad’s absorption and her immediate repatriation to her parent department. They have also demanded a high-level inquiry to determine how the NOC was issued in violation of statutory provisions and who facilitated this breach of the law.
The matter raises significant concerns about governance, transparency, and legal compliance within the PNMC. The nursing community and administrative observers alike are calling for urgent action to uphold the integrity of Pakistan’s regulatory body for nursing and midwifery.
“The rule of law must prevail. We cannot allow individuals to bypass legal procedures and occupy key positions unlawfully,” said one senior member of the Council who requested anonymity.
This developing issue affects the internal credibility of the PNMC. The group of four is reportedly occupying control of all council affairs, running them according to personal discretion rather than merit and transparency.
Earlier, members of parliamentary committees and Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal expressed concerns over the alleged malpractices at the national institute. The minister even referred to the situation as a “mafia”.