HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad circuit on Monday restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking any action against Dr Aftab Phull, an official formerly posted at the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH).

The FIA had given a call up notice to Dr Phull for Nov 17 in a probe into alleged corruption in the procurement process of the hospital.

Comprising Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and Justice Riazat Ali Sahar, the bench also summoned FIA Deputy Director Wasiullah Bhatti, who had issued the call up notice to petitioner Dr Phull.

The bench, however, linked its restraining order to the furnishing of Rs500,000 surety bond by the petitioner.

The petitioner, who was represented by Irshad Jatoi, said that one of the respondents in the case, Sarmad Sattar Leghari, had filed a direct complaint (25/2025) before the special judge Anti-Corruption (Central) Hyderabad, alleging that he and the co-accused, had embezzled Rs947.5 million during his posting in the LUH.

He said that being a provincial subject in fact, it was the domain of the Sindh government and had no connection with the federal government. He said in the special judge’s Oct 18 order, he took cognizance without realising that he lacked jurisdiction to entertain a direct complaint.

The petitioner maintained that the respondent FIA deputy director issued a notice on Nov 4 to the MS of the LUH despite the fact that he lacked jurisdiction.

He prayed the court to declare initiation of the probe by the FIA against him as barred under FIA Act 1974 and such notice should be set aside.

According to respondent Sarmad Sattar, he also appeared before court on Monday and would file objections on the petition on the next date of hearing.

The notice to the petitioner by the special judge was issued on an application of Sarmad Sattar Leghari on Oct 18 and subsequently the FIA deputy director asked the LUH medical superintendent to appear in person before him on Nov 10, along with certain record relating to the LUH’s procurement for 2023-2024. The notice said embezzlement had taken place in LUH’s procurement by a respondent LUH official, Dr Aftab Phull.

LUH MS Ali Akbar Dahiri on Sunday confirmed having received Nov 4 notice. He told Dawn that three medical superintendents who served during the period in question — Dr Shahid Islam Junejo, Dr Aijaz Abbasi and Dr Muneer Shaikh — had been informed by him to appear before the FIA.

The applicant cited Aftab Phull, additional dispensary superintendent (ADS in BS-17), then LUH MS, director finance, Ashfaq Hussain Shah, store incharge, and Anees, tender clerk of the LUH, as respondents. He said offences by the accused attracted provisions of Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010, Foreign Exchange Resolution Act 1947 and Immigration Ordinance 1979.

He accused Aftab Hussain of committing corruption and money laundering in 2023-2024 in procurement of medicines, consumables and machinery.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2025