Vaccine fiasco: No decision yet on arrest of Dr Saveeta, says official

FIA deputy director says investigations still under way


Sehrish Wasif May 21, 2015
PHOTO: BIOPHARMA

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has yet to conclude investigation into the loss of pentavalent vaccines worth $3.9 million, donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) almost nine months ago.

“Investigation is under way and so far we have not reached any conclusion to fix responsibility and arrest anyone from the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI),” FIA Regional Director Inam Ghani told The Express Tribune.

He made it clear that the FIA has yet not decided to arrest the wife of PML-N MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani and EPI Deputy Programme Manager Dr Saveeta Vankwani for her alleged involvement in the vaccine scandal, but she is under investigation.

Meanwhile, a senior official at the EPI said the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) had already removed all the officials accused of wasting 1.3 million doses of pantavelant vaccines.

Dr Vankwani on the issue

Dr Vankwani, who is also patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, has expressed reservations on the news aired by a TV channel alleging his wife’s involvement in the vaccine fiasco.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, he appealed to Acting Pemra Chairman Kamaluddin Tipu to take action against this condemnable act.

Vankwani said the vaccine scandal emerged before the appointment of his wife as deputy programme manager.

He added that the news channel has claimed that the FIA has decided to arrest his wife in the ‘polio vaccine scandal’ which was a stark example of sensationalism and yellow journalism.

“No FIR has been lodged against my wife, who being an educated woman and minority is a target by vested elements,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2015.

 

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