MULTAN: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government in Punjab on Monday posted a doctor, against whom a case of alleged corruption was lodged a few months back, as medical superintendent at Nishtar Hospital.
According to a report in the local media, an official order from secretary specialised healthcare and medical education department Saqib Zafar transferred Multan District Headquarters Hospital additional principal medical officer Dr Ashiq Hussain Malik and posted him as MS Nishtar Hospital against the vacant slot.
Additional MS Dr Ansar Ahmad Kazmi, who was holding the [additional] charge, was relieved with immediate effect.
Sources revealed that health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid opposed the posting due to his alleged involvement in corruption, but a delegation of parliamentarians met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar the other day and insisted on the posting.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had lodged an FIR against Dr Malik for his alleged involvement in [fake] purchase of medicines worth Rs14.8 million when he was serving as executive district officer health (EDOH) at Muzaffargarh.
It is pertinent to mention that the National Accountability Bureau is also probing the charges of corruption, misconduct and embezzlement against the administrative heads of Nishtar Hospital and in June last collected the hospital record since 2015 relating to purchases, appointments and promotions.
A spokesman for the Punjab health minister claimed that no ACE case was pending against Dr Malik.
The spokesman said the health department would take departmental action against Dr Malik if found guilty.
Director ACE Multan Amjad Shoaib Tareen, however, said no NOC was issued to Dr Malik.
He said three inquiries were initiated against Dr Malik. After findings of one inquiry, recommendation for case registration was sent while two others are being probed.
Dera Ghazi Khan ACE Deputy Director (Technical) Zahid Iqbal also stated that no NOC was issued by the department to Dr Malik.
