–Major (r) Irfan claims rules have been tailored to accommodate Maj Gen (r) Dr Tariq as secretary general
ISLAMABAD: A senior official of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has been shown the door for allegedly refusing to ‘accommodate’ a blue-eyed former military officer on the post of safety and security manager.
“He refused to extend my service contract because I refused to go against rules and regulations to look after his man for the post of safety and security manager,” PRCS Deputy Director Administration Major (r) Irfan told Pakistan Today while referring to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart and PRCS Chairman Saeed Elahi.
Major (r) Irfan, who also holds the charge of deputy director logistics and deputy director procurement at the PRCS, is currently serving one-month notice period leading to termination of his service contract.
Reports had recently emerged in media that the PRCS management wanted to accommodate a blue-eyed to the post and had also tailored the position objectives advertised for the post to match those with the qualification and experience of the person reportedly selected for the position.
“There were at least five requirements of the post, including five-year experience of working with a humanitarian organisation, experience in relief, rescue and disaster management, etc. The CV of the retired brigadier whom the chairman wanted me to shortlist for the position had only one-liner that he has 33 years of experience in audit and accounts. How can I go against rules and regulations to shortlist such a person who does not fulfil the required criteria for such an important position?” Major (r) Irfan, who is himself a retired military official and has served in Pakistan Army’s JAG Branch, said. When asked whether he can identify the blue-eyed official by name, he replied, “He is Brigadier (r) Tariq.”
“I was removed from the post with just a stroke of the pen, without assigning any reason. One can check the record that my all annual performance reports are more than satisfactory. I have even no allegation of minor misbehaviour with any of the staff members, no matter junior or senior to me. Under these circumstances, my termination is totally illegal and in violation of the law,” he said. “Currently, there are 136 people working at the PRCS headquarters in Islamabad. Contract of none of them has been terminated except me. Ironically, there are so many people who have been instead given even lifetime contracts,” he claimed. “PRCS cannot even claim that they have no funds available for my position … we have billions of rupees in funds available with us,” he added.
When asked if he plans to challenge this so-called illegal move of the PRCS management, Major (r) Irfan replied, “I will definitely do so. Basically, I am also a lawyer and have served at JAG Branch of Pakistan Army. I am in consultation with my mentor in the legal profession and will definitely adopt the legal course of action to challenge this illegal order.”
Regarding the post of secretary general recently advertised by the PRCS, Major (r) Irfan claimed that the match is already fixed for that position as well. “Stage is set to take on board a recently retired major general who has served as commandant of the Military Hospital in Rawalpindi,” he claimed. “It was just to accommodate him that the maximum age limit for the position was recently increased from 60 years to 65 years. And the minimum experience was raised to 20 years, so as to exclude some well-qualified people from within the organisation,” he added. When asked to name the person, he said, “It is Major General (r) Dr Tariq.”
Major (r) Irfan also revealed that the major general has already started taking part in PRCS official ceremonies. “He was invited to participate in a ceremony on Tuesday wherein Embassy of Japan in Islamabad donated four ambulances to the society,” he said. “Final date for the submission of applications for the post of secretary general is yet to come, however, the person who has already been selected for the position is attending official events. This is enough to prove how things work here,” he added.
Major (r) Irfan claimed that Saeed Elahi has kicked out three former military officers from the PRCS in a brief span of time. “First, he terminated a previous secretary general who was a brigadier. Then he kicked out a very competent safety and security manager – Haris Khan. And now it is my turn,” he said.
When Pakistan Today approached PRCS Spokesman Rehan Ali for his version on the claims of Major (r) Irfan, he replied, “This is totally baseless.” When asked if Major (r) Irfan was speaking something which is untrue, he said, “Whatever he is saying is not the reality.”
