PESHAWAR, May 6: The NWFP government has appointed Dr Ziaul Islam as principal of the Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, an appointment that is seen as contentious in view of the fact that he was held responsible by a high-level inquiry committee for causing millions of rupees in losses to a public sector hospital.

According to official documents available with Dawn, an inquiry committee headed by Col (retd) Alamzeb in a report, submitted on July 31, 1999, held that Prof Ziaul Islam, had caused a loss of over Rs10 million to the Khyber Teaching Hospital, one of Peshawar’s three teaching hospitals.

The five-member committee was constituted on March 6, 1998, by the then chief minister, Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan. It came to the conclusion that the losses were due to mismanagement and undue favour extended to various contractors and suppliers.

Dr Zia’s appointment has caused resentment amongst senior doctors who believe that the decision is not based on merit and fairplay as he has superseded two senior doctors, Professor Dr Omar Ali Khan and Professor Dr Khalid A Mufti. As a rule, the senior-most professor of the KMC is entitled to become principal.   NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan defended the appointment, saying that Dr Ziaul Islam was not involved in misappropriation of funds. “Officials at higher posts often face inquiries. It does not mean that they were corrupt”, he said.

Dr Ziaul Islam himself said he was not part of any embezzlement and that he had taken action against the people involved in misappropriation of funds.