Court sends DG Health Balochistan, MS SKZ hospital on remand

An accountability court in Quetta on Tuesday remanded Director General Health Balochistan Shakir Baloch and Medical Superintendent Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital Abdul Ghaffar Baloch on charges of massive corruption in a case pertaining to the purchase of anti-venom injections.

DG Health Balochistan and MS SKBZ hospital were presented before the court and Judge Munawar Shahwani approved 14-day remand of the accused.

An investigation carried out by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Balochistan's investigation team into the fake purchase of vaccines revealed that DG Health Shakir Baloch had illegally approved the purchase of 244,000 injections in violation of the law and rules.

Later, with the connivance of other accused, NAB said the accused caused loss to the national exchequer by making illegal payments of more than Rs.400 million to the preferred contractors. MS Sheikh Zayed Hospital Abdul Ghaffar Baloch, who was arrested in the case, is said to have illegally given a contract worth over Rs60 million in return for financial benefits.

NAB Balochistan had also arrested former Additional Director MSD Balochistan Dr Zulfiqar Baloch, Medical Technician and Proprietor Ali Umer Enterprises Khalid Bhati and Faqir Husain for embezzlement in the same case.

Further investigation is underway.