BAHAWALNAGAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Multan, called the chief executive officer (CEO) of the District Health Authority to appear before a combined investigation team on October 25 in an inquiry related to alleged irregularities in more than 200 appointments made from 2006 to 2010 under the recruitment policy of 2004, Dawn has learnt.

NAB says a probe revealed that these appointments were made on bogus degrees and directed the CEO to appear before a team at the Multan office along with a well conversant officer and the record of the officials on October 25. Sources say that the CEO did not appear before the NAB team.

A former CEO, Dr Inamullah Jamali, first highlighted the issue in a press conference held at the CEO office on Jan 1, 2021. He presented the list of 63 health officials, saying they were appointed on bogus documents.

Dr Jamali also constituted a three-member inquiry committee under the supervision of Dr Muhammad Aslam Tahir to probe the matter and directed the accused officials to submit their written defence to the inquiry committee within seven days. However, Dr Jamali was kicked out two days after his press conference on January 3. Sources say some politicians also managed to close the inquiry.

Health CEO Dr Asfand Yaar told Dawn that the record of the health officials had been submitted to the NAB office. He said that the majority of the health officials listed by the former CEO had been terminated on the recommendation of the inquiry committee constituted by former CEO Dr Jamali. The remaining managed to save their skin temporarily after getting a stay order from the court against the inquiry committee’s decision.

Contrary to the CEO’s claim, a senior medical officer, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that after Dr Jamali’s transfer, the inquiry committee was forced to stop its work and no such termination of any health official in this regard had taken place.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2021