Director Quarantine Dr. Abdul Basit, who allegedly ignored the strictest orders of the Islamabad High Court, has filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court. Notably, despite being nominated in multiple FIA inquiries and FIRs, and despite holding a Grade-18 position, Dr. Abdul Basit—who has been illegally serving as Director Quarantine in Grade-19 in the Department of Plant Protection—has now approached the Sindh High Court for his promotion.
According to details, Dr. Muhammad Basit son of Nazir Ahmed, currently posted as Director Quarantine in the Department of Plant Protection, has filed a constitutional petition No. D-5614/2025 under Article 199 of the Constitution of 1973 before the Sindh High Court. In his petition, he stated that in 2011, following the recommendations of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), he was permanently appointed as Deputy Director (BS-18) in the Department of Plant Protection.
He further contended that, under the prescribed appointment and promotion rules, the post of Director Technical (BS-19) is to be filled through 60 percent promotion from among Deputy Directors (BS-18) and 40 percent through other quotas. According to the seniority list, being the most senior Deputy Director, the petitioner claims that he is not only eligible but fully qualified for promotion to the said post. Since the relevant post is vacant under the promotion quota, he argues that his case should be duly considered for regular promotion to Director Technical (BS-19).
However, the petitioner alleged that instead of promoting eligible BS-18 officers to the vacant post of Director Technical, the respondents, with mala fide intentions, transferred Dr. Saqib Arif from his parent department, Pakistan Agriculture Research, to the Department of Plant Protection as Director Technical through a challenged office order dated October 19, 2025. This action, he claims, caused him serious prejudice and blocked his path to promotion.
Dr. Abdul Basit further stated that after being affected by this action, he repeatedly approached the respondents through various applications seeking consideration of his promotion, but no action was taken. Consequently, he claims he was compelled to file the present constitutional petition seeking writs of mandamus and certiorari.
On the other hand, according to information obtained by Tijarat News from reliable sources, Dr. Abdul Basit—despite being a Grade-18 officer—has been holding the Grade-19 post of Director Quarantine for a long period, and his departmental record allegedly contains shocking accounts of corruption and embezzlement. Sources further claim that the same Dr. Abdul Basit, who has filed the constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court, was involved in blatantly defying an important Islamabad High Court judgment issued in favor of industrialists and traders, and had categorically refused to comply with it. Now, he himself has become a petitioner before the court.
Sources alleged that immediately after assuming charge as Director Quarantine, Dr. Abdul Basit made life extremely difficult for traders and industrialists who approached the Department of Plant Protection for routine matters and clearance of their consignments. Through unnecessary objections and harassment, he allegedly forced them to pay millions of rupees in bribes. Since his appointment, he is alleged to have collected crores of rupees in bribes.
According to further claims, a well-organized group comprising former Director General of the Department of Plant Protection Tahir Abbas, Director Quarantine Abdul Basit, and other officials allegedly worked as facilitators for smugglers in return for huge bribes, collectively amounting to crores of rupees. Sources further alleged that Dr. Abdul Basit and other officials transferred the illegally acquired money abroad. Despite these serious allegations, institutions such as Anti-Corruption and NAB, along with other national security agencies, are reportedly acting as silent spectators.
Meanwhile, industrialists and traders from across the country have expressed astonishment over the constitutional petition filed by Director Quarantine Dr. Abdul Basit in the Sindh High Court for promotion and appointment as Director Technical. They questioned how it is possible for a person nominated in FIA inquiries and FIRs to seek promotion through a constitutional petition, while no action has been taken against him despite the gravity of the allegations.
It is worth mentioning that in his constitutional petition, Dr. Abdul Basit has named the Federation of Pakistan through the Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research; the Director General, Department of Plant Protection; the Establishment Division through its Secretary; Dr. Saqib Arif, Director Technical (BS-19), Department of Plant Protection; and the Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan as respondents.
