ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday barred the federal government from making new appointments in Islamabad hospitals.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, during the hearing of the case regarding facilities in federal hospitals, observed that largest hospital in the capital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), is without a chairman and barred recruitment in PIMS and National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM).
The Supreme Court also appointed Dr Fazal Mola head of NIRM hospital.
During the course of the hearing, the CJP remarked that an oxygen cylinder worth Rs5,000 had been bought for Rs22,000.
“It is a big development that Rs3 crore in this case have been recovered,” he said.
During the hearing, CJP Nisar inquired from Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) State Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry as to why a head has not been appointed at PIMS yet. The minister told the court that summary for appointment has been sent to the prime minister and advertisements have also been published for the seat.
Upon this, the chief justice replied that current government has left only two months hence the issue of appointment should be handled by the new government. “The ads regarding appointment should be taken back immediately,” the chief justice ordered, adding that court will first see summaries for the appointment.
The CADD minister further informed the court that the post of the executive director was abolished after which it was formed again.
Addressing Chaudhry, CJP remarked that the number of hours wasted on political rallies can be spent on work, adding that on one hand Parliament’s quorum is left incomplete and on the other, your office work is lacking as well.
Meanwhile, the additional attorney general (AAG) informed the court that a summary for appointing the heads of PIMS and Polyclinic has been sent to the prime minister’s office. He added that the premier, who is abroad, will approve the summary in a day or two.
The chief justice remarked that they can summon the prime minister’s principal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad to ask him about the matter.
The hearing was adjourned until next Monday.