MULTAN: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) director general has asked the ACE Multan to initiate an inquiry into corruption charges against District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Munawar Abbas.

The direction for the inquiry into the matter under Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Rules 2014 the ACE DG, was issued in a letter to the ACE Multan director on Dec 19.

Complainant Muhammad Sharif Ansari had alleged that Mr Abbas used to seize the administrative and financial powers of senior officers and relegate these powers to junior officers (of which he did not have authority) and later, he would get millions of rupees by keeping the junior officers under pressure. He was also allegedly involved in bogus appointments, bogus promotions of the employees and embezzlement of funds through fake tours and maintenance of vehicles.

The complainant alleged that Epidemic Control Programme district coordinator Dr Attaur Rehman, a mere medical officer, was given the additional charge of Integrated Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Programme while he was also given the powers of deputy of deputy district officer of which the CEO had no authority while there were many of BPS-18 and 19 officers who could be assigned this additional duty.

Action taken on complaint that levelled multiple allegations against the CEO

He stated that a vehicle owned by Dr Rehman was being used by the family of Dr Abbas of which fuel and maintenance expenses were being paid by the government.

He alleged that Mr Abbas had received Rs1.8m from the employees of kidney hospital to manage renewal of their contracts; however, the employees moved the Lahore High Court after Dr Abbas failed to get their contract renewed.

The complainant also alleged that about Rs10m were being released on a monthly basis in terms of salaries of dengue staff but there were many bogus names in the list of employees while assistant entomologists, including Imran, Shafia, Faheem, Hafiz Umair, Zulfiqar and Shahbaz, were getting money by showing 50pc bogus tours.

He stated the medicines for basic health centres had been purchased on prices five times higher in violation of rules.

Mr Ansari said that instead of doctor, drug inspector, drug controller, district health officer, deputy district health officers, non-technical employees had been made the members of purchase committee.

He alleged medicine budget of Rs230m was not utilised last year as there were less chances to earn money that’s why purchase committee considered it non-beneficial. This created a shortage of medicines in the hospitals of the district for six months.

The complainant also identified a number of other alleged wrongdoings by Dr Abbas and Dr Rehman with documentary proofs attached with the application.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2019