M. Waqar Bhatti
Islamabad: Following the footsteps of former health minister Abdul Qadir Patel, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has appointed a controversial individual as “Director General to Health Minister”—a position that does not exist in the official structure of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSR&C).
The appointment of Ayaz Mustafa, which has no legal basis within the ministry’s sanctioned organogram, is being described by senior officials as both ‘irregular and deeply disturbing’ due to the appointee’s chequered history.
Senior officials within the ministry confirm that Ayaz Mustafa, who holds Grade 19 status as a Senior Research Officer at the Health Research Institute (HRI) under the National Institute of Health (NIH), has not only been posted on a fictitious post equivalent to Grade 20, but his selection has invoked Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act—a provision that does not apply in this case, given that the position does not formally exist.
Despite the title “Dr.”, Ayaz Mustafa is not a registered medical doctor but holds a PhD-level research qualification, making his appointment to a senior health policy advisory role even more contentious, officials said.
The development comes just weeks after Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had initially appointed another controversial figure, Imran Ali alias Tipu, a known confidant of former health minister Abdul Qadir Patel, as his staff officer. However, Tipu was swiftly removed within 24 hours following uproar from ministry officials and opposition from allied departments.
Now, the appointment of Ayaz Mustafa—reportedly under the same political influence—has reignited tensions. Senior officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, fear that Mustafa’s presence in the minister’s inner circle will disrupt the administrative equilibrium of the ministry.
“It’s not just an illegal appointment. It’s a dangerous precedent,” one senior officer remarked, stating that Ayaz Mustafa has a “documented history of insubordination, forgery, harassment, and long unauthorized absences from duty.”
According to multiple documents reviewed by The News, Ayaz Mustafa was accused of drawing over Rs. 10 million in pay and benefits from the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) through misrepresentation while holding a federal post. An SHCC audit flagged his irregular appointment as Director Anti-Quackery, noting he never obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from his parent organization—the then Pakistan Medical Research Council (now NIH)—before joining SHCC in 2018.
A 2022 communication from the SHCC confirms Mustafa received approximately Rs. 8.1 million during his tenure. In 2020, the Sindh High Court dismissed his petition to retain his SHCC contract, ruling that his dual employment violated government service rules and constituted misconduct. The court imposed a Rs. 25,000 fine, criticizing him for misusing judicial time.
In June 2022, HRI officials urged recovery of Rs. 10.4 million and disciplinary action, citing financial misconduct. Despite these findings, Mustafa held roles in various Sindh government bodies—including the CM’s COVID-19 cell and NIPA—without proper leave or clearance from his original department.
Ministry insiders view his latest appointment as politically motivated. “Just like Patel, Kamal seems intent on bringing loyalists on board, regardless of their track record,” one official said, warning of damage to merit and governance.
The appointment order, a copy of which has been seen by The News, was issued by the Ministry of NHSR&C on May 7, 2025. The order cited Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, to justify Mustafa’s transfer and posting as “Director General to the Minister for NHSR&C.” However, ministry officials claim that since Ayaz Mustafa is not a career civil servant, this legal provision cannot be applied in his case.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal was sent a detailed questionnaire via WhatsApp for his version but did not respond. Ministry spokesperson Syed Sajid Hussain Shah confirmed that the queries were forwarded to the minister, but no response was received even after three days despite repeated follow-ups.
A senior NHSR&C official claimed Mustafa was appointed as a “staff officer”—a permissible role—but conceded that no such title as “Director General to Minister” exists or has ever been used.
Officials fear Mustafa may use the post to influence postings, recruitments, and retaliate against those who previously acted against him. With internal opposition growing, many in the ministry are questioning whether the NHSR&C is being run as a professional institution or a political enclave.