ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar on Wednesday said the inquiry launched by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) into the registration of 12 new medical colleges and the fixing of drug prices was started to malign her before elections.

Speaking at a news conference at the Press Information Department, she said according to a recent survey, 71pc of the voters in her constituency are in her favour but such allegations may damage her popularity.

“I can go to court against NAB for levelling baseless allegations, but I do not want to give the impression that I want to avoid an inquiry. My hands are clean and my only request is that NAB should complete the inquiry within a fortnight so I can be proven innocent. NAB can demand the required documents from me and I will provide them at the earliest,” Ms Tarar said.

She said NAB is deliberately maligning PML-N leaders and that she was aware of how applications are accepted in NAB and how inquiries are started.

The accountability bureau on Tuesday ordered an inquiry against Ms Tarar and some officials of her ministry for alleged corruption in different affairs including the registration of private medical colleges and the fixing of drug prices etc.

The executive board meeting, presided by NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal, decided to verify allegations against the president of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regarding corruption in connivance with Ms Tarar in the recognition of 12 medical colleges and corrupt affairs in the council’s affairs.

NAB also negated a decision of the federal cabinet regarding the appointment of a ‘dead’ officer in grade 19 on the grade 20 post of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan’s chief executive officer.

During the press conference, Ms Tarar said her ministry has nothing to do with the registration of medical colleges as according to the rules, the ministry works as a post office and sends all applications to PMDC for verification.

“Some of these 12 colleges were army colleges and others were public sector,” she said.

She said it would have been better if NAB had looked into the registration of medical colleges during the former government’s tenure.

“I have written a letter to the NAB chairman telling him that his decision has maligned my reputation. My family has been in politics for the last 100 years and I have not done corruption of even a single rupee in my 10-year political career. How can a press release be issued without first seeking a clarification from me,” she said.

She added that five officers in her ministry were investigated by NAB but they were all cleared later. She said some elements have been filing applications against her and other officers of her ministry because an operation has been started against spurious drugs.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018