Official found involved methyl bromide scandal gets important posting

ISLAMABAD: A major controversy has erupted within the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) as an officer implicated in a methyl bromide import scandal has been appointed to a key regulatory position, official documents available with The News reveals.

This move comes despite an official report recommending disciplinary action, including suspension, against Syed Muzammil Hussain, Entomologist (R) and six other officers for alleged violations of law and collusion with a private firm.

In an office order dated October 5, 2025, Muzammil Hussain was transferred and assigned as Deputy Director (Quarantine), DPP, HQ, and additionally given the assignment of “look-after charge of Deputy Director (Pesticide Registration) and IPPC contact point.” Prior to this, he held the position of Entomologist, PSW, HQ/Focal Person.

When contacted, Muzammil Hussain first acknowledged his new appointment but when questioned further on his suspension matter, the latter refused to comment and maintained silence.

When contacted again on Thursday, Muzammil Hussain didn’t reply to any questions.

However, Dr Basit, Deputy Director DPP when approached said, “Muzammil Hussain is one of the officers allegedly involved in illegal import of MB is posted again in registration section as deputy director”.

“He is main person who manipulated the record and recommended for grant of registration. Though he is suspended, still he is transferred to a new post”, alleged DD DPP.

The appointment is in stark contrast to the recommendations of a recent departmental probe into the cancellation of methyl bromide import orders for M/s Pest Management Services (PMS) and two other firms. The report, which sources indicate was sent to the Secretary’s office for implementation five weeks prior to the appointment, explicitly recommended initiating disciplinary proceedings, including suspension, against Mr Hussain for failing to comply with mandatory regulatory requirements.

Muzammil Hussain was specifically named one of the officers who “recommended the case for allowing import of Methyl Bromide 100 percent from Australia, without proper verification of the manufacturer and supporting documentation”.

Despite the damning findings and recommendation for disciplinary proceedings against Mr Hussain, the transfer order places him in charge of the very section—Pesticide Registration—whose evaluation process he is accused of compromising.

The probe outlined numerous severe violations by a group of officers, including Muzammil Hussain, in granting Import Permission Certificates (IPCs) for 100 percent Methyl Bromide (CHBr), an ozone-depleting substance. The probe highlighted use of forged documents and non-existent manufacturer, regulatory Failures, suspicious origin of shipments, besides raising serious concerns about the implementation of accountability measures within the ministry and the regulatory integrity of the DPP, particularly regarding the trade of hazardous and regulated substances like Methyl Bromide.

Other officers named in the report face different circumstances: two were contractual and are no longer in service, one is

on leave preparatory to retirement (LPR), and another has been compulsorily retired.