PESHAWAR: The Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), one of the three tertiary care public healthcare facilities in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has sacked its director (supply chain) over unsatisfactory performance, serious administrative lapses and persistent delays in procurement processes.
The termination of Mohammad Ishaq Khan came following an “open audit” by the anti-corruption establishment (ACE) of irregularities in the recent HMC recruitment.
The ACE declared that BoG chairman Dr Noorul Iman was “prima facie responsible for abuse and misuse of statutory authority, unauthorised intervention in recruitment and selection process and failure to safeguard public funds”.
It recommended criminal, departmental and other legal proceedings against Dr Iman, board members and other relevant officials.
ACE inquiry recommends action against BoG over recruitment anomalies
When contacted, Dr Iman rubbished the ACE’s audit report, saying it is based on assumption, hearsay and lacks concrete evidence.
“Condemning someone unheard is against the settled principles of justice. I am sure that when I am heard and facts are placed in front of authorities, the result will be totally different,” he claimed.
The 27-page audit report has also held BoG members accountable for failing to exercise proper oversight over the use of the board’s administrative and financial resources and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
The termination order issued by the hospital director said that director (supply chain) Ishaq Khan, who was serving his probationary period, “shall immediately cease to exercise any administrative, financial, procurement or managerial authority on behalf of HMC and shall complete all necessary handover and takeover, clearance, and exit formalities forthwith”.
The ACE audit, which was launched on the complaint of Mardan Medical Complex auditor Mushtaq Ahmad, said that the examination of available records showed that the BoG chairman was prima facie responsible for misusing his authority and official position by facilitating the appointment of preferred candidates to various HMC administrative posts in violation of the Medical Teaching Institution Act, 2015, and the MTI Regulations.
The ACE report also called for the cancellation of all appointments, re-designations, up-grades and additional assignments identified for being made in violation of the MTI Act, 2015, MTI Regulations or prescribed recruitment procedure.
It also directed authorities to recover Rs32.87 million incurred up to July 2026 from persons found to have benefited from or been illegally appointed, promoted and upgraded.
The report said that pending final determination; the competent authority shall take appropriate measures to prevent further avoidable financial losses, including review or suspension of disputed salary, enhancement, incentives, contract extensions and additional remuneration without disrupting essential hospital and clinical services.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the HMC refused to comment on the developments.
The HMC has been in the eye of the storm over hiring and sacking controversies for several months, painting a sorry picture of MTIs, the provincial PTI-led government’s flagship healthcare reform initiative.
Last month, the BoG ordered an inquiry against the hospital director. The matter is currently pending with the court of law. The board also suspended the hospital director despite a court order. However, the court overruled the suspension order on August 4 and restored him, while the main petition challenging the inquiry is still pending with the court.
Also, another case regarding the hospital recruitment, including that of the head of the supply chain department, who was sacked on Tuesday, is sub judice.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026
