The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a full-scale investigation into a massive illegal hiring scandal within the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), culminating in the arrest of its Chairman Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali and Director Establishment Ikhlaq Malik. The arrests were made in Islamabad following an extensive inquiry conducted by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle.

According to preliminary findings, the top officials at PARC are accused of making 332 illegal appointments for various posts across the organization, despite there being only 164 sanctioned vacancies available under federal recruitment rules. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns regarding abuse of power, systemic misgovernance, and financial irregularities within the institution.

Recruitments Made Without Legal Sanction or Transparency

The inquiry revealed that these recruitments were carried out without following due procedures, bypassing competitive hiring protocols and merit-based selection criteria. The appointments were reportedly made in violation of the Establishment Division’s recruitment guidelines, and without obtaining clearance from relevant federal departments.

The FIA’s internal report highlights that several unqualified and underqualified individuals were offered positions on the basis of personal affiliations, pressure, or internal recommendations. These appointments not only undermined the credibility of the institution but also created a financial liability for the public sector, resulting in undue strain on the allocated budget.

17 More Officials Under Investigation, Raids Underway

The scandal appears to be wider than initially anticipated. The FIA has expanded the scope of its investigation and has issued warrants for 17 additional officers and employees within PARC suspected of direct involvement in or facilitation of the illegal recruitment drive. Raids are being conducted at multiple locations to apprehend those evading arrest.

Sources within the agency confirm that the individuals under scrutiny include section heads, HR staff, and departmental managers who allegedly signed off on the appointments or played a role in processing unauthorized hiring documentation.

Chairman and Director to Appear Before Court for Physical Remand

The arrested officials Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali and Ikhlaq Malik have been moved to FIA custody and are expected to be presented before a magistrate for physical remand proceedings. The investigation team plans to interrogate the accused for further details regarding the recruitment process, financial trail, political pressure, and internal approvals (if any) related to these appointments.

Investigators are also expected to retrieve digital records, correspondence, and official documentation from PARC’s headquarters to substantiate charges of corruption, abuse of authority, and violation of federal hiring laws.

Recruitment Scandal Triggers Government and Parliamentary Alarm

The illegal hiring case came into the spotlight after a Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee raised red flags over unusual spikes in staff hiring at PARC. Committee members questioned the legitimacy of such a large-scale recruitment drive in the absence of sanctioned budget and recruitment permissions. Subsequent audit observations confirmed anomalies in staffing levels, leading to the involvement of the FIA.

This incident has triggered renewed calls for institutional accountability and administrative reforms within Pakistan’s public sector bodies. Lawmakers and transparency advocates have urged the government to create stricter checks and real-time audits to prevent misuse of hiring powers by autonomous organizations and regulatory institutions.

FIA Reaffirms Zero-Tolerance Policy Towards Institutional Corruption

The FIA reiterated its commitment to uprooting corruption from public bodies and holding officials accountable for any abuse of authority. The agency emphasized that hiring malpractices not only damage the public’s trust but also rob deserving candidates of fair employment opportunities.

According to the FIA’s spokesperson, this case serves as a precedent for similar inquiries across other state-run organizations where irregular appointments have been suspected. The agency has vowed to take the investigation to its logical conclusion and recover any financial loss caused to the national exchequer as a result of these unlawful actions.

Broader Impact: Shake-Up Expected in Public Sector Hiring Practices

The arrest of such senior officials at PARC is expected to have far-reaching implications for public sector employment practices in Pakistan. It has brought renewed focus on the need for digitized, transparent, and merit-based recruitment frameworks across all state institutions.

The government may also consider enforcing mandatory third-party audits, centralized hiring oversight mechanisms, and cross-agency vetting procedures to restore confidence in public appointments and to prevent similar incidents from recurring.