LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau has launched a probe against Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority (PHOTA) administrator Prof Dr Faisal Masud on his appointment as head of the authority.

The probe was initiated after the NAB managed to collect certain evidence against Prof Masud for drawing a hefty salary package as well as perks and privileges being the head of PHOTA, an official privy to the information told Dawn.

He said after his retirement as vice chancellor of King Edward Medical University, the Punjab government appointed him as administrator/director general of PHOTA in April 2017.

The official said Prof Masud was said to be ‘influential’ for being close to the then chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He said Prof Faisal Masud himself had recommended his salary package worth approximately Rs1.2 million through health department as PHOTA administrator/director general.

To the surprise of many, the then chief minister had accorded approval to his recommendations.

The official said as KEMU VC, Prof Faisal had also been holding additional charge of PHOTA administrator.

Instead of filling this top position, the government kept it vacant till his retirement to accommodate him as its head, he claimed.

After obtaining the details of his appointment process, tenure of posting and break-up of his salary package as private person, the NAB extended scope of the investigation.

Through a notice, the NAB sought from him complete family profile, names/occupation and profession of his children and siblings, besides his educational qualification, professional competence and experience.

“The competent authority has taken cognisance of an offence(s) alleged to have been committed under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999,” reads a notice issued by the NAB to the PHOTA administrator.

A copy of the notice is also available with Dawn.

The NAB summoned the PHOTA DG to appear before the investigating officers on Thursday (today).

The bureau also warned him that failing to comply with the notice may entail penal consequences as provided in S.2 of the schedule of NAO, 1999.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2018