HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, has directed the health secretary to submit observation / report of fact-finding / preliminary inquiry in which the former Liaquat University Hospital director administration was held responsible for a ‘fake’ and ‘managed’ letter for the release of Rs350m for clearance of LUH liabilities.

The bench, comprising Justice Amjad Ali Sahito and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, had heard the petition against the LUH officer, Abdul Sattar Jatoi, on Wednesday and signed the order on Thursday.

It asked the health secretary to file the report on or before December 17, the next date of hearing.

Regarding a National Accountability Bureau probe against the respondent officer, the NAB investigating officer assured the bench that he would submit the report regarding status of the inquiry / case (initiated under SHC’s August 22 directive) within three weeks.

The bench also ruled that the court’s interim order suspending notification regarding posting of the officer in LUH would continue till the next date of hearing.

The order, authored by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, also decided Azam Jehangiri’s application seeking to become intervener in the matter.

The bench recorded submissions of counsel for the petitioner regarding the fact-finding / preliminary inquiry against the respondent health officer. According to the counsel, the inquiry committee had found the officer responsible for the alleged fraudulent letter. He stated that the Sindh chief secretary had also referred such findings of the inquiry in his Dec 7, 2023 order while deciding the matter. Through the said order, the chief secretary had exonerated the respondent from the charges levelled against him, the counsel said.

He submitted that the observation / report of fact-finding / preliminary inquiry should be called from the health secretary in view of the letter dated Aug 24, 2022, issued by Mohsin Raza Dasti, section officer (N.C), health department. “Let observation / report of fact finding / preliminary inquiry be called from secretary health in view of letter dated Aug 24, 2022,” the bench ordered.

It said that the interim order (dated Oct 3, 2024 passed by the court’s division bench comprising Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi and Justice Amjad Ali Bohio) would continue till next date of hearing. Through this interim order, the operation of Abdul Sattar Jatoi’s posting notification was suspended.

In his plea, Azam Jehangiri had levelled allegations of corruption against LUH administrative staff and Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences vice chancellor.

He prayed that he should be allowed to become intervener in the matter as he had a grievance similar to those of the petitioner.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2024