Sindh orders three-year appointment of Qaim Ali Sh…

The Sindh government has directed Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) to take immediate steps for the three-year appointment of Professor Dr Nighat Shah, daughter of former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, just one day before her scheduled retirement.

The directive was issued following a decision of the Sindh Cabinet. Secretary of the Boards and Universities Department Abbas Baloch has also issued a formal notification in this regard.

According to the notification, the provincial cabinet discussed the matter during its meeting held on August 5 under agenda item 16.

The cabinet cited the broader public interest, continuity of specialised medical services, academic leadership, postgraduate medical education, research, innovation and institutional standards as reasons for considering the appointment.

The notification initially states that the vice chancellor should consider appointing Dr Nighat Shah as a professor for three years. However, it subsequently directs the university administration to take immediate steps to process her three-year appointment.

The university has also been instructed to implement the cabinet decision without delay and submit a report on the action taken to the Boards and Universities Department on a priority basis.

The appointment has raised questions because the government has referred to a notification issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on May 19, 2026.

The PMDC had allowed public medical and dental institutions to hire retired faculty members on a purely contractual basis until the age of 65. However, the council had clarified that the policy was enabling in nature and was not mandatory for any institution.

Under the PMDC policy, individual institutions were allowed to make decisions according to their requirements, rules, regulations and available resources.

The PMDC notification also stated that contractual appointments of retired faculty would not create any right to permanent employment, seniority or absorption into the regular cadre.

It further clarified that such appointments should not adversely affect the promotion opportunities, career progression or cadre structure of junior faculty members.

The case has therefore raised questions about the need for the provincial cabinet to intervene in the appointment of a particular retired faculty member when the PMDC policy leaves the decision to individual institutions.

The PMDC notification is a general policy applicable to public medical and dental institutions. It does not specifically direct any institution to appoint an individual faculty member.

The proposed appointment has also triggered concerns over seniority within JSMU.

Associate professors Dr Shazia Naseeb, Dr Nasreen Fatima, Dr Saba Khan, Dr Iram Majid and Dr Maimoona Rehman are reportedly among those whose seniority could be affected by Dr Nighat Shah’s appointment.

The issue is likely to attract further attention because the proposed appointment comes immediately before Dr Nighat Shah’s retirement. Questions are also being raised about how the decision could affect existing faculty members and their career progression.