ISLAMABAD: An initiative aimed at ensuring transparent, merit-based appointments to Ismaili regional and local councils in Upper Chitral through a QR-code system has come under scrutiny after the Ismaili National Council for Pakistan reportedly again sought recommendations from outgoing office-bearers for the selection of incoming honorary council leadership.
Sources familiar with the process told ChitralToday that candidates shortlisted through the council’s QR-code application system were reportedly referred to outgoing regional council presidents for recommendations rather than being interviewed directly by the relevant selection authorities.
The reported practice has raised questions about whether the digital initiative has improved transparency or merely digitized the application process while leaving the selection of candidates vulnerable to favouritism and potential conflicts of interest.
Community members alleged that some outgoing officials have recommended relatives, close associates and business partners for positions in the incoming leadership.
They urged outgoing Ismaili National Council President Nizar Mewawala to ensure that appointments are made independently and strictly on merit without the involvement of outgoing regional council presidents in recommending their successors.
“The National Council president must ensure that the upcoming leadership is appointed strictly on merit through one-on-one interviews rather than seeking recommendations from outgoing regional council officials,” a community member told ChitralToday correspondent, requesting anonymity.
In one instance, a source alleged that a regional council president completing his second term had recommended a close business associate to succeed him as president of the Upper Chitral Regional Council.
The allegation has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of the selection process.
According to the source, the two individuals share a business venture, while buildings associated with their commercial interests are reportedly leased to the Ismaili Council and other institutions of the Ismaili Imamat to accommodate their offices in Booni.
Community members expressed concern that the outgoing regional council president’s reported recommendation of his business partner for the next presidency could serve their shared commercial interests, including the potential continuation of institutional functions at the guesthouse.
The controversy has renewed concerns about the credibility of the QR-code initiative, which community members had welcomed as a step towards transparent and merit-based appointments.
Critics argue that seeking recommendations from outgoing regional council presidents, rather than conducting independent interviews with prospective candidates, undermines the purpose of introducing a digital selection mechanism.
Senior community members have called for clearly defined selection criteria and independent, one-on-one interviews, maintaining that outgoing office-bearers should have no role in recommending or influencing the appointment of their successors.