RAHIM YAR KHAN: ‘Irregularities’ have surfaced in recruitment process for different posts in Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH), it is learnt.

The SZMCH administration had run an advertisement on June 26, 2017, for different posts from scale 1 to 17 without mentioning the number of vacancies.

Later, a revised advertisement was published on July 14 in which last date for submission of applications was extended from July 17 to July 28.

According to SZMCH sources, almost 32,000 applications were submitted till July 22 against more than 200 vacant and sanctioned seats. The hospital administration generated Rs3.2 million against Rs100 challan fee for each application.

Over 100 people inducted prior to completion of process

The sources said on the one hand the process for submission of applications was under way, but on the other the administration appointed 137 people on different seats on an honorary basis.

They claimed that all these people were ‘accommodated’ by the medical superintendent on political basis.

Most of the newly appointed [on honorary basis] even did not fulfil the eligibility/qualification criteria. Later, these [137] appointments were cancelled from the date of issuance through letter no.29687-725 SZH dated July 18.

The sources claimed that the principal had also appointed more than 100 people to different technical and non-technical posts on honorary and ad hoc bases ‘by violating the rules and regulations and against the CM’s merit policy’ during the [ongoing] process of publication of advertisement.

When contacted, Principal Prof Dr Mubarak Ali Chaudhry said: “These types of appointments without advertisement continued in the past but now the posts have been advertised for the first time.” To a question, he said some appointments were made on the recommendations of a brother of a ruling party MNA because he donated funds to the hospital. He said the newly recruited would be declared contract employees.

SZMCH spokesperson Muhammad Illyas (who is also allegedly not eligible for any administrative slot being a pharmacist) said in his version through WhatsApp that appointments were being made with the consultation and recommendation of governing body [of the hospital].

He said technical staff on ad-hoc basis was appointed to provide medical facilities to patients.

He said the funds generated through recruitment process would be spent on the treatment of patients.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017