MULTAN: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Monday started investigation into misappropriation of funds during the four-year tenure of Nishtar Hospital’s former medical superintendent Dr Ashiq Malik after a preliminary probe report identified irregularities in purchase of medicines for the hospital by him and other officials concerned.
A four-member investigation team, comprising Multan Region ACE Director Gohar Mushtaq Bhutta, Dera Ghazi Khan Region Director Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen and additional directors Imran Asif Bhutta and Jalil Imran, has been constituted by the ACE Director General retired Brig Muzaffar Ali Ranjha with a direction to probe alleged financial irregularities in the Nishtar Hospital and District Health Authority (DHA), Multan, as Dr Ashiq Malik is now serving as the authority’s CEO.
Nishtar Hospital’s incumbent MS Dr Abdul Rehman Qureshi and other officers concerned briefed the team about the inquiry conducted by a seven-member committee, headed by Mr Qureshi himself.
They said the health secretary had also directed for the four-year special audit regarding purchase of medicines and surgical and non-surgical disposables at the hospital.
Sources say the audit team, which is already in Multan, has initially estimated the misappropriation of hundreds of millions in purchase of medicines, equipments and other expenditures. They add that a couple of months back, Mr Malik was removed from the post of MS Nishtar Hospital due to allegations of corruption but he was made the CEO of Multan District Health Authority despite the inquiry was under way against him under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 on the direction of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The sources say the ACE has also started collecting the details of the assets of Dr Malik.
However, in a press release, Dr Malik has expressed his reservations over the inquiries initiated against him. He says all the additional medical superintendents (AMS) of Nishtar Hospital, including AMS Management and Repairing, AMS Purchase, AMS Pharmacy, AMS Admin, besides the pharmacist are under immense pressure.
“They are being pressurised to record statements against me which is totally illegal,” he alleges and apprehends that the record of the hospital could be tampered with, misplaced or concealed to victimise him. He has also complained of threats being issued against him.
Talking to Dawn, he says that being the MS of the Nishtar Hospital, he did not have powers over the financial matters but that the director finance was responsible for any misappropriation, if committed.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2017