KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro has said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is being contacted to apprehend those posing themselves as the minister or one of his subordinates by making mobile phone calls to certain senior officials to mint money or obtain favours from them.

“The health ministry was receiving complaints from various districts of Sindh in which senior officials deputed there informed us about the calls they had received purportedly from the health minister or his subordinates demanding favours, money, or expensive medicines etc,” said a senior health ministry official while speaking to Dawn on Friday.

Officials said such complaints had been landing on the table of Dr Mandhro for a number of days, compelling him to launch an in-house inquiry first to know whether such calls are being made by any insider.However, said an official source, a detailed inquiry conducted by some senior officials in the ministry made it clear that those calls were not being made by those working in the ministry, particularly those close to Dr Mandhro.

According to the complaints the ministry has received, some officials in Jamshoro, Badin, Larkana and other districts had received calls from two mobile phone numbers. The caller, posing himself as the minister or someone working in his office, demanded money, high-priced medicines, etc.

Suspects had impersonated health minister to obtain money, medicines etc

“Many officials at district headquarters, [except for] Karachi, could not help but fulfil the demands they received on phone supposedly from the high echelons,” said a ministry official, adding that the officials had to approach the ministry when such demands failed to end.

“The two mobile numbers have been publicised,” said the official. Besides, he said, the numbers had been given to the relevant quarters at the federal level for further inquiry to identify those involved in the racket.

The ministry had ordered officials at all the district headquarters not to entertain such calls. “Any [such] call they receive from the ministry should be verified from Karachi.”

“We will be releasing a public service message in a day or two as those imposters could harm our image through other means if they are not stopped effectively.”

Officials quoted Dr Mandhro as saying that the ministry was seeking help from the FIA to apprehend those involved in the criminal act. “We are contacting the federal agency to help us nab the culprits,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2017