Court orders: NAB restrained from inspecting private medical colleges

PHC CJ says institutes fall under PMDC, therefore NAB cannot exercise authority

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court restrained National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from carrying out inspections of private medical colleges and sought replies from the accountability body.

The bench, comprising PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Daud Khan, was hearing a writ petition filed by Professor Dr Faiz Ahmad Qureshi on Tuesday. Abdur Rauf Rohila, counsel for the petitioner, said NAB issued notices to various private medical colleges for inspection.

He said private medical colleges fall under Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, therefore, NAB had no authority to carry out such inspections. He argued it was tantamount to misuse of authority.

Rohila, while citing various judgments, maintained a division bench of PHC, on July 4, 2015, ruled NAB’s inspection of private medical college as null and void.

He said even Supreme Court upheld the PHC verdict. He added despite these judgments, NAB issued inspection notices again to private medical colleges. The counsel requested the bench to declare the notices as illegal.

After hearing the arguments, the bench restrained NAB from carrying out the inspection.



FC personnel case

The same bench sought records from Frontier Constabulary authorities about personnel who surrendered and handed their weapons to Taliban militants after their checkpoint was attacked. The bench was hearing a petition filed by FC personnel Mujibur Rahman, Saiful Islam, among others. The court was told that around 200 militants attacked the Gulistan checkpoint on July 12, 2008.

The petitioner’s counsel said there were only 12 FC personnel on duty at the checkpoint and some of them fled, while the others surrendered and handed their weapons over to the militants. He added the personnel who fled returned their weapons to the authorities seven days after the attack. However, those who surrendered were removed from their jobs through forced retirement. The petitioners’ counsel said authorities did not hold an enquiry nor were the personnel issued show-cause notices.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2016.