RAWALPINDI: The district administration has rejected the findings of an inquiry committee formed by the Punjab health department which recommended recovery of fine from former district health officer for keeping an official vehicle despite his transfer.

A new committee has been formed to start investigation into the matter. After three months of the first inquiry, the new three-member committee was formed by Deputy Commissioner Shoaib Ali, who is also the administrator of the District Health Authority.

Earlier, the first inquiry committee was formed on the directives of former Punjab minister for primary and secondary health department Dr Akhtar Malik.

The committee included Dr Amir Sheikh, (head of Maternal and Child Health), Dr Naveed Akhtar (deputy district health officer Potohar Town) and Inam Niazi (deputy director finance). It presented its report to the department with a recommendation to impose fine on the former district health officer for using official vehicle without permission.

This vehicle was given to Dr Khalid Randhawa as the district health officer but he did not return the vehicle despite taking charge as medical superintendent of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and even after retirement.

The report of the inquiry committee was sent to the health minister, health secretary and the district administration. Now after three months, while suspending the inquiry, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi and administrator of District Health Authority Shoaib Ali has formed another committee comprising Dr Syed Tahir Rizvi (Benazir Bhutto Hospital’s medical superintendent), Dr Irfanul Haque from District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and Dr Sarfraz Khan (transport officer of District Health Authority).

The committee has been directed to submit a report in a week. When contacted, District Health Authority (DHA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Anser Ishaq admitted that the new inquiry committee had been formed to re-investigate the matter.

“The vehicle was in possession of Dr Randhawa as the district health officer from January 2015 and he was asked to return it in Dec 29, 2021 through a letter as he did not return the vehicle despite taking charge as medical superintendent of District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and even after retirement. The matter was brought in the notice of then minister and he was asked to get back the vehicle and formed a committee to probe the matter,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 23th, 2023