MULTAN: The Provincial Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department is set to launch an inquiry into corruption charges against District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Munawar Abbas.

Director Health Services Multan Division Dr Waseem Rimzi told this correspondent that the inquiry team would be constituted on Friday (today).

Sources said two letters were written by the department on Dec 5 and 12 to initiate inquiry against Dr Abbas. They said that earlier two letters were written to the director health services, Multan, on Aug 9 and Nov 1 to initiate inquiry against the CEO but the matter was hushed up.

Dr Rimzi said as he was busy in polio campaign, a probe could not be initiated. He said the process would begin on Friday (today).

Earlier, the Director Anti-Corruption Establishment had directed ACE Director (Multan) Sarfraz Khan Magsi to initiate an inquiry against Dr Abbas.

Complainant Muhammad Sharif Ansari alleged Dr Abbas, a grade-19 officer, had been given the post of grade 21 and was involved in corruption on a large scale. He alleged that Dr Abbas promoted three homeopathic dispensers in grade 16 in violation of the rules (homeopathic doctors perform their duties in grade 15) while two collectors Syed Azhar Hussain and Saifur Rehman were promoted in grade 16 and 14 in violation of rules.

“Similarly microscopists Muhammad Kamran and Muhammad Siddique have been promoted to grade 16 in violation of rules and regulations,” he alleged.

He alleged that while ignoring the senior doctors of grade 19 including Dr Waseem Rimzi and Dr Zaffar Abbas, a junior doctor in grade 18 Dr Yasin had been given the powers of drawing and disbursing officer of the basic health units in the district.

He said Epidemic Control Programme district coordinator Dr Attaur Rehman, a medical officer, had been given an additional charge and the powers of deputy district officer. The CEO, he said, had no authority to do so. Many BPS-18 and 19 officers could be assigned this additional duty.

He stated that a vehicle owned by Dr Rehman was being used by the family of Dr Abbas and the cost of fuel and maintenance was being paid by the government.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2019