The university operates out of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. PHOTO: FILE
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested five doctors of the hospital and a section officer of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) on September 1 for allegedly embezzling millions of rupees while procuring medical supplies for the hospital in 2013-14.
An FIA inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan found that the officials had violated procurement on four counts to control the bidding process, which caused a loss of Rs30 million to the exchequer.
Subsequently, the agency had arrested Polyclinic Deputy Executive Director Dr Iftikhar Naru, Dr Azmat Humayun Sumbal, Dr Farrukh Iqbal, Fayyaz A Shaikh, and Dr Zulkifal Sabir.
CADD Section Officer Farhan Sikandar was also arrested. Two suppliers, Malik Rehmat Manzoor and Rana Mehmood Ahmad, who were awarded contracts to provide medical gas to the hospital for the year 2013-14, were also arrested by the FIA. On Thursday, the FIA said that the doctors had surrendered Rs10.7million. The agency added that the men had further agreed to surrender the remainder of the embezzled money.
Dr Naru and Muhammad Arshad, an admin officer at the hospital, had been separately booked by the FIA for alleged misuse of authority and favouritism while recruiting hospital staff.
An FIR registered against the two by the agency says Dr Naru issued appointment letters to 102 candidates against a total of 68 available posts for junior technicians. The FIR adds that 34 appointments were made “fraudulently”, with “concealment of facts” and “malafide motive”. FIA officials say the letters of appointment were prepared by Arshad and signed by Naru, both of whom “knew full well that only 68 posts were available”.
FIA investigators further discovered that no formalities were completed and that only favourites were accommodated during the recruitment process. Officials say only 23 out of the 102 selected candidates met the prescribed criteria.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2016.
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