ISLAMABAD: In a staggering revelation, more than 50 deputationists have been illegally planted into the National Highway Authority, blatantly violating Establishment rules and snatching away the promotion and placement rights of regular NHA officers many of whom are far more qualified, experienced, and professionally sound than the politically injected officers.
Sources confirm that these external officers, morally and ethically unwanted in their own parent departments due to questionable service records and corruption allegations, have hijacked the internal functioning, perks, and privileges of the NHA, creating administrative anarchy.
These officers are not only unwelcome in their own service groups, but have also manipulated political backing and bureaucratic complicity to illegally secure powerful positions within the NHA.
This large-scale breach has triggered serious unrest among career NHA officials, who have now moved the Islamabad High Court, initiating contempt proceedings against the Secretary Establishment, Secretary Communications, and Chairman NHA Shahryar Sultan, for defying court rulings and undermining internal merit-based succession.
This institutional sabotage is compounded by earlier cases, including:
Mian Tariq Latif, under inquiry in Pakistan Railways, appointed against a non-existent NHA post, defying parliamentary instructions and subsequent repatriation orders.
Muhammad Shakeel Anwar, an FBR officer who illegally extended a 3-month deputation into 9+ years of occupation, despite High Court directives and zero relevance to NHA.
Iftikhar Mahboob, a PAAS officer, unlawfully holding the post of Director Accounts PPP for 9 years, in clear contempt of deputation tenure rules.
Despite repeated parliamentary oversight and formal directives from the Senate Standing Committee on Railways, Chairman NHA has refused to comply, noting “no further action required” on official notifications.
Allegations have surfaced that he has been assured political cover by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, raising serious questions over executive interference.
This crisis underscores a complete breakdown of merit, law, and institutional autonomy at the NHA. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Establishment Minister, Advisor Dr. Tauqir Shah, and relevant secretaries must take urgent and visible action to restore order and integrity in the NHA.
Failure to act now would not only tarnish the Prime Minister’s credibility, but signal a dangerous precedent of jungle law, where court orders, parliamentary advice, and legal codes are discarded for political convenience.
