PNC president refuses to relinquish charge

Pakistan Nursing Council’s top body had removed Dr Sobia as president

ISLAMABAD:

Parliamentarian Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro has shown reluctance to relinquish charge as president of the Pakistan Nursing Council after the council’s executive committee removed her earlier.

Sources said that Dr Shazia Soomro was removed as president of the PNC in light of the opinion of the Ministry of Law and Justice.

However, Dr Shazia Sobia, who is also holding the portfolio of the Parliamentary Secretary of Health, has refused to relinquish the charge and she regularly shows up at the office and enjoys perks and privileges.

According to sources, the PNC executive committee wrote a letter to the Ministry of Health on November 23, 2022, stating that the Pakistan Nursing Council is an independent entity and a member of the National Assembly has been made its president.

After that the ministry of health wrote a letter to the Ministry of Law and Justice to seek legal opinion on the issue and on December 29, 2022, the Ministry of Law and Justice said that according to the law, no parliamentarian can become the president of any council.

The Ministry of Health, in the light of the opinion of the Ministry of Law and Justice, informed the Pakistan Nursing Council via a letter on January 3, 2023, after which a notification (PNC NO F.11Admin 2023/668) was issued by Pakistan Nursing Council Vice President Faridullah Shah, de-notifying Dr Shazia Sobia as president of the PNC.

The notification was also sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice, the federal minister of health, the secretary of health, National Assembly Speaker and other relevant authorities.

According to sources, Dr Shazia Sobia has refused to step down as the president of the Pakistan Nursing Council and she is still going to the office and enjoying perks and privileges. She also issues orders to the subordinate employees. On the other hand, Pakistan Nursing Council high-ups refuse to accept her orders, the sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2023.