LOWER DIR: The youth wing of Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday demanded of government to properly probe all appointments in Timergara Medical College (TMC), purchase of land and equipment for the college and district headquarters hospital.

Speaking at a news conference at Timergara Press Club, JI youth wing district president Ateequr Rehman alleged that over 120 employees were recruited in TMC in sheer violation of merit. He said that the employees were drawing salaries without performing duty as several of them were living abroad.

JI district information secretary Shuiab Ahmad, general secretary Ikram Khan, Kamil Khan, nazim Shah Hassan, Fazal Subhan and other activists also attended the press conference.

Mr Ateeq said that JI youth wing had been running an agitation campaign against illegal recruitments and other irregularities in TMC from the day first. He said that scores of qualified youth were deprived of their right to jobs because blue-eyed boys were appointed in violation of merit.

Project director rejects allegations of irregularities

He said that some of the employees were working in a specific hospital. He said that Rs500 million were spent only on renovation of the building for the college. He said that he had all documentary proofs about the recruitment and purchase of land and equipment for the college.

The JI youth wing leader demanded of government to declare the whole process of recruitment null and void. He said that millions of rupees were spent on buying low quality equipment for district headquarters hospital.

He said the project director had also failed to complete the scheme within its stipulated time. He complained the hospital was short of essential medicines despite a huge allocation of funds.

However, Dr Shaukat Ali, project director of TMC, rejected the allegations and told this scribe by telephone that his opponents filed a petition against the recruitments in Peshawar High Court but the case was decided in his favour as court declared the appointments according to rules.

Regarding purchase of land for doctors’ colony, he said the department had identified five different sites to deputy commissioner and he chose the most suitable place at the lowest rate.

He said that all equipment purchased for the hospital were up to the mark. He said that the matter was already investigated by several agencies.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024