ISLAMABAD: A session of the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) on Thursday turned into a showdown between lawmakers and the bureaucracy, after senators discovered that the ministry had still not implemented a court order directing the appointment of a new Director General of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP). The committee, visibly angry over what they described as a blatant disregard of judicial authority, instructed the ministry to immediately appoint Mr. Tariq Khan, the senior-most technical official of the department, in strict compliance with the court ruling.
The revelation that the ministry had ignored the court order despite several weeks of delay left the senators shocked. According to documents shared in the meeting, the court had explicitly ordered the government to appoint the senior-most officer Mr. Tariq Khan as DG DPP. However, the ministry continued to drag the matter, citing “procedural requirements.” Tariq Khan, who was also the petitioner in the case, was invited by the committee to brief lawmakers. He told senators in clear terms that influential officials inside the ministry were deliberately blocking his appointment to protect their own interests. “The order is crystal clear, but the ministry has chosen to ignore it,” he stated firmly.
Secretary MNFSR, Amir Mohyuddin, attempted to downplay the matter, claiming that the “appointment process was underway.” But senators refused to buy his explanation. Senator Aimal Wali Khan, waving a copy of the court order, thundered: “The ministry has no option but to comply. Otherwise, contempt proceedings may follow against those responsible.” His remarks drew nods from fellow lawmakers who demanded immediate compliance.
Members also took notice of former DG DPP Tahir Abbas sitting quietly in the meeting room. His presence stunned the senators since his appointment had already been declared illegal by the court.
Committee Chairman Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, visibly furious, demanded an explanation from the secretary. The secretary failed to give a convincing answer. After some tense exchanges, Tahir Abbas was asked to leave the committee room — a move that underscored the gravity of the ministry’s disregard for court directives.
Senator Saleem Mandviwala raised alarm that the prolonged absence of a legally appointed DPP head was crippling Pakistan’s agricultural trade. Fruit and vegetable exporters, represented by Waheed Ahmed of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, pleaded with the committee to resolve the issue urgently. He told the senators that consignments were being delayed, international buyers were losing confidence, and Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable exporter was at stake. He warned that if the leadership vacuum at DPP continued, Pakistan’s exports would suffer irreparable losses. The committee members, alarmed at the testimony, pressed the ministry further. Eventually, the secretary MNFSR assured that Tariq Khan’s appointment would be finalised without any further delay.
The committee also took up the issue of suspended DPP technical directors who are facing departmental inquiries. After listening to details, Senator Mandviwala remarked that the suspensions appeared to be highly selective, targeting relatively weaker officials while allowing influential insiders to escape accountability. “It seems that scapegoats are being punished while the real culprits remain untouched,” he observed. The committee eventually decided to establish a subcommittee to review all pending inquiries and determine whether justice was being applied fairly.
The Committee reviewed inquiry reports related to Dr. Tariq Khan, Ms. Allah Ditta Abid, and Sohail Shahzad, all Ex-Directors (Technical) of DPP. After hearing their pleas, the Committee expressed serious concerns. Chairman Ahsan demanded a detailed investigation to determine whether the charges were based on fair and just grounds.
To ensure transparency, a subcommittee under Senator Poonjo Bheel was formed, with support from Senator Saleem Mandviwala, to investigate all related inquiries.
Another flashpoint during the session was the proposed establishment of the National Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). Several trade associations voiced their strong opposition, accusing MNFSR officials of sidelining exporters and pushing through the draft without genuine consultation. Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Faisal Jahangir, told the committee that his association which represents 80 percent of Pakistan’s agricultural exports had been deliberately ignored. “Not only were our recommendations excluded, but our representatives were muted and silenced during consultative meetings. This is outright disrespect for exporters who are the backbone of the economy,” he said angrily. The senators were visibly disturbed by the account and decided to order an inquiry against Joint Secretary Bilal Haider, who was accused of misbehaving with exporter associations. Waheed Ahmed echoed the complaints, adding that rather than forming a new authority, the government should strengthen and equip the DPP, which already exists but is being weakened by bureaucratic wrangling.
REAP went further, accusing the ministry of sabotaging rice exports. Faisal Jahangir warned that after Pakistan achieved a historic export record last year, shipments were now likely to face a drastic decline. He blamed the ministry’s decision to force exporters to rely on government-notified laboratories, many of which are not even accredited by the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC). “Instead of allowing exporters to use internationally recognised private labs, which we are even willing to pay for, the ministry is imposing unregistered labs on us. This is damaging our trade and putting Pakistan’s credibility at risk globally,” he said. In response, the secretary defended the decision, claiming that the HEJ Laboratory in Karachi had been upgraded with government funding and was fully capable of meeting international testing standards. Exporters, however, appeared unconvinced.
Farmers’ representatives also painted a grim picture. Khalid Khokhar, Chairman of Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, declared that the country’s agriculture sector was in a state of emergency. He warned that if immediate corrective measures were not taken, farmers would abandon cotton cultivation entirely by next year. “Not only cotton, but other major crops will also be at risk, and Pakistan may be forced to import basic staples because of the government’s negligence,” he cautioned. He further alleged that in the recent wheat import scandal, the “real culprits” had been protected while junior officials, who had no direct role, were unfairly suspended.
Towards the end of the session, the committee reviewed a comprehensive report on the devastation caused by recent floods. Large swathes of farmland were reported destroyed, leaving thousands of farmers destitute. Senators recommended that the government declare the worst-affected regions as disaster zones so that maximum financial relief and logistical support could reach the victims.
