Islamabad: In a major crackdown on institutional corruption, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), and Ikhlaq Malik, Director Establishment, over charges of gross misuse of authority and illegal recruitment.
According to official FIA records and an FIR registered under Sections 109, 409, 468, 471 PPC read with Section 5(2)(47) of the PCA 1947, 332 individuals were illegally recruited against only 164 sanctioned posts—in blatant violation of rules and recruitment procedures. These appointments were made without public advertisements, often favoring relatives and associates of the accused.
The arrests come after an official inquiry revealed that 168 out-of-quota posts were illegally created and filled by officials colluding to benefit themselves and others. The illegal appointments reportedly led to a significant financial burden on the national exchequer through unjustified salaries, honorariums, and perks.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed that both senior officials have been formally taken into custody and will be presented in court for remand. Raids are underway to apprehend other officers and beneficiaries named in the inquiry, including:
Shehzad Asad (Deputy DG)
Shahid Maqsood Gill (Member, Natural Resources)
Ghulam Sadiq Afridi (SSD)
Zia Ul Hassan, Imtiaz Hussain, Saima Akhtar, and several others across various divisions
The FIR states that the accused adopted “corrupt practices, criminal misconduct, and embezzlement of public funds.” The case was registered following directions from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and is currently under intensive investigation by FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad.
The FIA emphasized that anyone involved—whether directly or through knowledge and benefit—will be prosecuted without leniency. Copies of the FIR have been circulated to concerned government departments, and further arrests are expected in the coming days.
