PESHAWAR: The Khyber Teaching Hospital’s board of governors has asked the health department to act against a former hospital director of the medical teaching institution for ‘illegally occupying’ the top office.

Insiders told Dawn that Dr Mohammad Zafar Afridi occupied the HD office on Thursday claiming that he holds the position in light of the Peshawar High Court orders.

The court had ordered status quo on the hospital director’s posting until Sept 15.

Dr Afridi claimed that the court orders had favoured him holding the post, so he assumed the charge.

The BoG had appointed Dr Tahir Nadim Khan, a former director-general (health services) as the HD on June 30 after interviewing applicants.

Dr Afridi, who was the acting HD at that time, wrote a letter to BoG on Aug 19, saying he didn’t relinquish the charge of the office and challenged the appointment in the court of law.

Dr Afridi claims he held position following court orders

He claimed that he had secured more marks in job interview than 18 other candidates, so he should have been selected.

“Acting on my petition, the court has ordered status quo on the matter, so I will continue as HD. As I didn’t relinquish the charge, the court stay means that I’m still the HD. I’ll continue in the office,” he wrote to the board.

However, a BoG member told Dawn that Dr Tahir was on top of the merit list and therefore, he was selected for the HD position.

Dr Tahir assumed the charge of that office on July 1.

The board member said under the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015, the individual selected for the HD post should appear before BoG, which could accept or reject him or her.

“In case of rejection, the board will provide written reasons for rejection to the selection committee. Alternatively, it may ask the committee to re-evaluate candidates and select another one from them or begin the entire selection process afresh,” he said.

The BoG on Friday issued a notification declaring that the court had ordered status quo in the case, so Dr Tahir Nadim Khan, who had been acting as the HD since July, would continue in the position.

Later, it held an emergency meeting and expressed concern over the attitude of the former HD and asked the district administration and police to prevent trouble in the hospital.

The issue was brought to the notice of the health minister as well, a board member said.

He said in light of the court’s decision, Dr Tahir was told to continue as the HD in the ‘public interest’.

The board member also said all orders passed by Dr Afridi during the occupation of the top KTH office were illegal.

He said the board had asked the hospital’s employees to communicate with Dr Tahir as HD.

The board member said copies of the orders were also sent to the high court’s registrar as well as health minister and secretary.

He said the board had asked the health department to hold an inquiry into the illegal occupation of the KTH top office to prevent law and order situation on the premises.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2020