Comstech chief remains defiant in face of ‘damning inquiry’ on charges of misconduct

An inquiry committee, established on orders from President Asif Ali Zardari, has found the head of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (Comstech), Dr Iqbal Choudhry, guilty of numerous allegations of misconduct. These charges include financial irregularities, breaking executive orders, and ignoring court directives, according to the inquiry report obtained by Dawn.

Dr Choudhry, who has been serving in this role since 2020, disputes the legality of the proceedings, claiming the inquiry was "one-sided" and that procedural requirements were not fulfilled. He also contends that no show cause notice was ever shared with him and that the inquiry was based on a "fake complaint". The report highlights a variety of complaints against Dr Choudhry, ranging from non-compliance with presidential instructions and court orders, to alleged misuse of Comstech funds.

These included taking over 70 foreign trips without prior approval and using travel and accommodation funds for personal benefit. The committee also noted that Dr Choudhry had held two positions simultaneously for over four and a half years, despite directives to relinquish one.