Corruption probe falls prey to committees
A third committee formed to probe allegations of corruption of Rs66.2 million in the District Health Authority Rawalpindi has failed to deliver its report on the role of a woman officer said to be the central character in the entire episode.
The committee was constituted on May 8, the same day on which the second inquiry committee was scheduled to submit its final report in the case involving Dr Hooria Mohsin. However, the committee was terminated on that day, with the health secretary forming a third committee, and giving it 14 days to submit its report. The additional secretary for reforms chaired the committee which is yet to submit the report despite the passage of the deadline.
An earlier three-member committee headed by Health Services Director Dr Asadur Rahman had found that Dr Mohsin and seven others caused losses of Rs66.2 million to the national exchequer during procurement for the health authority. It also recommended recovering the amount from the officials.
He also recommended a separate inquiry against them under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act. Instead of taking action on it, another inquiry committee was formed under the chairmanship of Health Services Director Dr Rana Muhammad Riaz.
Moreover, a performance review of the officer in question, Dr Mohsin, included similar remarks. Dr Anser Ishaq, the health department CEO, and Dr Asadur Rehman, a former director in health services.
Dr Mohsin had challenged the remarks, which called her reportedly corrupt while also casting aspersions on her character, attitude, professionalism and behaviour.
The said remarks were expunged from her record on the orders of the secretary of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Ali Jan Khan.
Sources privy to the matter say that a key figure in the supervisory provincial government was actively involved in the matter due to which the ‘open-and-shut’ corruption case was getting stalled.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2023.