IHC voids appointment of drug watchdog chief

Authorities asked to appoint new chief within 45 days


Our Correspondent April 15, 2017
OCA flat owners ask which building code violations can be regularised. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday declared the appointment of the chief executive officer of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), Dr Mohammad Aslam, ‘null and void’.

A petition was filed challenging the appointment of Dr Mohammad Aslam as the chief executive officer of Drap on the basis that the appointment was in violation of section 18 of the Drap Act.

The act states that no person could be appointed as the CEO, director or an employee of Drap if they had any financial or professional conflict of interest.

At the time of appointment as the CEO, the petitioner said, Aslam was a shareholder in a pharmaceutical company.

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Justice Athar Minallah, while accepting the petition declared the appointment ‘null and void’ and directed the authorities concerned to appoint a new chief within a period of 45 days.

The Drap has been established under the Drap Act 2012 to provide effective coordination and enforcement of the Drugs Act 1976 and to bring harmony in inter-provincial trade and commerce of therapeutic goods.

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The authority regulates the manufacture, import, export, storage, distribution and sale of therapeutic goods. Dr Mohammad Aslam Aslam assumed the charge as CEO DRAP in February 2015.

 

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