Despite having competent officers on board, the Poly Clinic has been in the grip of re-employed retired officers in clear violation of Supreme Court orders, Pakistan Today has learned. Sources in the hospital said that despite a ban imposed by the Supreme Court, tenure extensions for influential officers was a routine matter which had halted promotions of other competent officers who had been waiting for many years. They said that Dr Shahbaz Ahmed Qureshi (head of Cardiology Department) and Dr Pakeeza Raza Haider from the dental department had received extensions after retirement. Owing to these extensions, many competent officers like Dr Akbar Nawaz had retired without receiving due promotion to the next grade. Sources said that in violation of apex court orders, Dr Pakeeza Raza Haider had not only been re-employed in the dental department but was also made its head. “Due to the extension in Dr Pakeeza’s service promotions of three doctors had been blocked,” said a senior doctor. Acting Poly Clinic Executive Director Dr Shaukat Kiyani had also received an extension in service after retirement. Sources said that apex court orders had not been violated in the case of Dr Kiyani’s service extension as it did not halt the promotion of others. The Supreme Court, while hearing a contempt petition on Friday, had directed the Establishment Division to furnish a list of re-employed retired officers and those appointed on contract after retirement within seven days. The court had also issued contempt notices to officials responsible for illegal promotions. A two-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Khilgi Arif Hussain passed these orders on Friday. The petitioner had prayed to initiate contempt of court proceedings against officials who were continuously appointing retired officers on important positions in the presence of eligible in-service officials in blatant violation of Supreme Court orders.
