MULTAN: Nishtar Medical University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha has withdrawn 695 appointments from scale one to 16, made during the tenure of previous Nishtar Hospital medical superintendent Dr Abdul Rehman Qureshi.

According to the official order issued on Aug 7, the appointments were made against codal formalities of the recruitment policy of 2004 while the recruitment process was not transparent.

“Hence all the appointment orders issued by the then medical superintendent, Nishtar Hospital Multan, against advertisements published in newspapers on March 18, 2018 and March 24, 2018 are hereby withdrawn,” the order stated.

It stated that fresh recruitment process against all the posts has been initiated.

On July 21, a four-member committee consisting of Associate Prof Dr Naheed Ahmed Chaudhry, Director Dr Tariq Jamil, Treasurer Ghazanffar Abbas and Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Zaffar Abbas Bukhari, was constituted by VC Dr Pasha to probe into the recruitment of different categories.

The committee in its report on July 21 stated the perusal of the record of recruitment process in the hospital revealed that irregularities were committed in the hiring of the staff. The committee, however, recommended that the recruitment process needed thorough investigation through a high-level committee constituted by the secretary to the government of Punjab, specialized healthcare and medical education department.

“The matter is already being interrogated by NAB authorities and the final report/action is still awaited,” the report concluded.

Many of the `affected’ employees have moved the Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, against the Nishtar administration for not allowing them to continue their jobs and not releasing their salaries. On Aug 7, the court directed the Nishtar administration not to disturb petitioners till the next date of hearing – Aug 15 - while notices were issued to the respondents to file report and para-wise comments.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has meanwhile started investigations into a complaint of alleged corruption against Dr Qureshi, and his son Huzaifa Rehman and others and a letter in this regard was dispatched to the VC on June 5 to provide the record from 2015 relating to purchases, appointments and promotions.

Complainant Kaleemullah Khan alleged that Dr Qureshi, Huziafa, additional MS Dr Shah Zaman, Dr Muhammad Rafique Akhtar and Dr Naeem Asim were involved in illegal appointments and promotions.

He alleged that Dr Qureshi and his son made hundreds of illegal appointments from grade 1 to 16 and Dr Akhtar was equally involved in the act.

He stated that the ‘rate’ for grade 1 to grade 4 job was Rs200,000, grade five to 10 Rs300,000, grade 11 to 15 Rs400,000 and for grade 16 Rs500,000. He said that many appointments were made by changing merit lists.

He said that many promotions were also made in the violations of rules and even many promotions were made against the posts which did not exist while no sanction was sought from the government.

He alleged that by delaying the bulk purchase of medicines, a huge quantity of medicine was purchased through local purchase in the violation of public procurement regularity authority rules.

He stated that corruption was done in the purchase of fuel for generators and ambulances by tampering with digital meters of generators and bogus log-books entries while money was made in the purchase of medical equipment and their repairing.

Talking to reporters a few days back, the VC said that the employees were sacked on the directions of NAB. The NAB authorities, however, termed his statement incorrect and based on false information.

“It is further clarified that it is purely administrative matter dealt by the Nishtar Hospital administration under its own rules and procedures and having nothing to do with the complaint verification proceedings under process with NAB Multan,” the press release issued on Aug 8 stated.

When Dawn contacted, VC Dr Pasha expressed his ignorance about the termination of the employees, saying that he was not aware about such move. He said that he did not constitute any inquiry committee and was also not aware of its findings as well.

An official said the varsity had not received the court order regarding any relief to the terminated staff.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2018