KARACHI: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sought information against alleged malpractices at Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), according to officials and documents obtained by Dawn on Sunday.

Sources told Dawn that NAB had sent a letter to the executive director of JPMC, Dr. Anis Bhatti, on August 26, 2015, and sought information about several officers of the hospital and hiring of post-graduate doctors after receiving complaints to this effect.

NAB has sought information from the JPMC administration under section 27 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

“In connection with a complaint being processed by NAB, you are requested to provide the details along with eligibility criteria for the post held by six officers/officials,” according to contents of a NAB letter reviewed by Dawn on Sunday.

The officers against whom the anti-corruption body has received complaints include Dr. Jawed Akhtar, Dr. Sikandar Hayat, Amir Denari, Dr. Salman, clerk/office assistant Irfan and clerk Hassan Pathan.

NAB has also sought details about post-graduate trainees (PGTs) selected from 2013 to 2015.

The anti-graft body has asked the JPMC administration to provide details about the hospital procedure/rules for hiring/appointing of PGTs, copies of advertisements published for their induction, list of applicants and list of successful candidates along with marks obtained in tests and interviews.

Meanwhile, a NAB spokesperson confirmed a letter was sent to Dr. Anis Bhatti, executive director of the JPMC, as there were “serious allegations” against him for conducting “undue and unjust” hiring.

The spokesperson said there were charges that after the passage of the 18th Amendment, when JPMC was devolved to the Sindh government, hiring was conducted without merit.

But JPMC Executive Director Dr. Anis Bhatti told Dawn he had provided all relevant information to NAB on Friday, adding that all processes were undertaken as “per rules.”

Bhatti said he did not have powers to appoint deputy directors as they were being appointed by the govt.

But when there is a vacancy, such officers are given responsibilities in addition to their own duties, he added.

He said when he assumed charge of JPMC around six months ago, there were at least nine deputy directors and he relieved around three of them as they were not “eligible,” adding that they were replaced by other officers.

Dr. Anis Bhatti said there was a capacity of over 200 resident medical officers (RMOs) at JPMC but at present, only 47 were working.

“In order to fill vacancies, PGTs are being selected by an eight-member committee of the hospital to work without any salary.”

There were at least 5,000 employees and an equal number of patients visited the hospital on a daily basis, added the senior hospital official.