KP Assembly Questions DCs’ Role in Doctors’ Recruitment

APP 

Peshawar: Serious concerns have emerged in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly over the role of district administration in the contract recruitment of doctors, dental surgeons and nurses, as lawmakers questioned whether Deputy Commissioners were legally authorized to supervise the hiring process.

During Sunday’s assembly session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, members of the ruling party challenged the recruitment procedure, raising allegations of irregularities and possible violations of recruitment rules.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Ubaidur Rehman questioned who had authorized Deputy Commissioners to oversee the recruitment of medical officers, dental surgeons and nursing staff, arguing that complaints regarding the hiring process warranted an independent investigation.

The issue gained further attention after allegations surfaced from Mansehra, where candidates claimed that despite interviews being conducted at the divisional level for district vacancies, applicants from other districts were selected over local candidates.

According to the affected candidates, the recruitment process deviated from the advertised criteria by combining applicants from multiple districts into a province-wide merit list, allegedly sidelining eligible local candidates. They argued that the procedure violated the recruitment policy and service rules governing contract appointments.

The candidates have announced plans to challenge the appointments in court and have appealed to the Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, provincial ministers and lawmakers to intervene and order an inquiry into the recruitment process.

Legal experts note that government recruitment must strictly follow applicable service rules, official notifications and approved policies. Any departure from the prescribed procedure could render the appointments open to judicial review and legal challenge.

In Abbottabad, interviews for doctors and nurses were conducted by a selection committee working under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, comprising officials from the district administration and the Health Department.

The role of administrative officers in the recruitment process has now become the focus of growing political and legal scrutiny.

The provincial government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations raised on the floor of the assembly.