Pakistan anti-corruption agency investigating PTI leader for breach of merit-based system News
USAID Pakistan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pakistan anti-corruption agency investigating PTI leader for breach of merit-based system

Pakistan’s Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACEP) initiated legal proceedings on Tuesday against former Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid and her daughter. ACEP accused them of breaching the merit system and abusing their authority.

ACEP reported that the anti-corruption agency had lodged a case against former health minister for allegedly appointing her daughter Dr. Ayesha Ali as an assistant professor at Cook Edward Medical University. ACEP claimed that this violated merit-based procedures. The anti-corruption investigation substantiated allegations that Rashid leveraged her influence to secure an appointment for her daughter without adhering to merit-based principles. The investigation also allegedly revealed that Rashid issued an experience certificate bearing her signature for her daughter and abused her position to accord preferential treatment to other candidates during the interview process.

The agency further alleged that Ali was 47 years old when she secured the position, surpassing the specified age limit of 40 years for the job. Ali had not submitted any application seeking age relaxation through the appropriate channels, as required by the law. Additionally, in violation of the rules, Ali travelled abroad shortly after her appointment.

Rashid is a Pakistani politician and member of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). She served as the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Primary & Secondary Healthcare and Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education between 2018 and 2023.

This is one of the many setbacks for the PTI party as the general elections approach. In August, Khan faced a conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case, which accused him of selling state gifts. More recently, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) withdrew the PTI’s election symbol, a decision suspended by the Peshawar High Court which has been challenged by the ECP in a review petition. Furthermore, a slate of nominations by PTI members for the general elections was rejected by the ECP, including the rejection of Khan’s nominations from two constituencies. Multiple PTI leaders have also been arrested including the former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureishi, who shared a new year message from jail calling for stability and harmony.

Following a favorable Supreme Court ruling, which was issued shortly before the suspension of PTI’s election symbol, directing the ECP to guarantee a fair election atmosphere, the PTI has accused the ECP of biased behavior. The PTI alleges that the ECP is targeting their party and creating hurdles. Consequently, the PTI has filed a contempt of court petition in the Supreme Court in response to what they perceive as a lack of impartiality by the ECP.

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