ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Saturday took notice of alleged misappropriation in the supply of medicines as well as in the provision of oxygen and nitrogen gas to the Federal Government Services Hospital, popularly known as Polyclinic.

The apex court ordered the secretary of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) to submit comments on the allegations made in an application submitted by Umar Lodhi, a junior doctor.

It is the second time that matters related to Polyclinic have been taken up by the apex court. In November 2008, the then chief justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar, ordered a judicial inquiry into the reported thrashing of two doctors of the hospital by the family members of a National Assembly officer.

A doctor has alleged that Dr Iftikhar Naru and his wife are partners in a company awarded contract to supply medicines, equipment to the hospital

On June 18, 2016, Dr Umar Lodhi submitted an application to the human rights cell of the apex court, which was later placed before the chief justice.

After going through the application, the chief justice sought comments from the secretary CADD in two weeks. The application requested the chief justice to take notice of the alleged corruption in the hospital.

In the application, the doctor said he had approached the apex court with the hope that action would be taken for the good of the patients in the hospital.

The application pointed fingers at Dr Iftikhar Naru, the acting executive director of the Polyclinic, and his wife who, according to the applicant, were partners in a company which had been awarded the contract to supply equipment to the hospital for the last five years.

“The acting executive director is a government servant but doing business with the hospital by illegally awarding contract to his company for the supply of the hospital equipment,” the application added.

When contacted by Dawn, Dr Iftikhar Naru however rejected the allegations and claimed that Dr Lodhi never worked in the hospital and had leveled the accusations without any evidence.

He said the health ministry had already constituted a special committee to probe into the allegations and also recorded his statement. The report of the committee has been finalised and sent to the health ministry, he added.

The application also claimed that the company enjoyed another contract for the repair/maintenance of electrical equipment and air-conditioners installed in the hospital.

In addition to the supply of essential gases, the hospital management was also involved in alleged mismanaging and misappropriation of different medicines and drugs, the application alleged.

It requested the chief justice to order an inquiry into the allegations and audit of the last five years of the hospital.

In case an unsatisfactory report is submitted to the apex court by CADD, it is expected that the matter may be fixed before a bench for hearing.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2016