PNMC polls postponed after heated dispute

Council's reconstitution under Sept 2025 ordinance hits procedural objections

ISLAMABAD:

A meeting of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) ended without any outcome on Tuesday as the election of the president and vice president could not be held amid heated arguments and disorder. Special Secretary of the Ministry of Health Aslam Ghori could not be elected as president.

According to sources, it was decided through an ordinance on September 28, 2025, to reconstitute the council. After six months, parliament two days ago approved a further extension of 120 days to the ordinance. Following the enforcement of the presidential ordinance, the first meeting of the Nursing Council was held on Tuesday, during which the election of the president and vice president was on the agenda.

For the post of vice president, Dr Syed Ali Farhan Razi, Chief Executive of Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, was a candidate. Sources said that soon after the meeting began, arguments escalated into a heated dispute, forcing the meeting to be adjourned without any decision. After the chaos, the meeting ended and the health secretary left the venue.

Sources said the meeting was attended by council members including the Special Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services, the Director General Health, Higher Education Commission Director General Quality Assurance Nasir Shah, and Directors General Nursing from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Principals of nursing colleges from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, a senior midwife from Balochistan and a welfare representative from Karachi were also present.

According to sources, proceedings could not move forward due to objections raised over the election process under Clause 11 of the ordinance. Under the agenda, all members were also asked to submit affidavits declaring any conflict of interest.

Officials of the ministry said no decision has yet been made regarding the date of the next meeting, as the federal minister is currently abroad. The future course of action will be decided upon his return.

Last year, the President of Pakistan had ratified a Presidential Ordinance for the restructuring of the PNMC, thereby dissolving the current leadership, including the President, Vice President and other office-bearers. Following the ordinance's enactment, all administrative and regulatory powers of the Council had been transferred to the Ministry of National Health Services.

According to the ordinance, a new 19-member committee was constituted. At its inaugural meeting, the committee would elect a new President and Vice President for the Council. Notably, the Federal Secretary for Health was granted veto authority over all Council decisions.