AMTI suspends ATH director amid allegations

PHC Abbottabad bench declines interim relief to Dr Ather Lodhi

ABBOTTABAD:

The Board of Governors (BoG) of Abbottabad Ayub Medical Teaching Institution (AMTI) has suspended Dr Ather Lodhi, the officiating Director of Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH), with immediate effect.

The action comes in response to serious allegations of financial mismanagement, misuse of authority, and negligence.

As stated in an office order signed by Dr Abid Jameel, Chairman BoG, the suspension aims to facilitate ongoing inquiries against Dr Lodhi.

The suspension remains in effect pending the outcome of the investigations. The inquiries were initiated after BoG members detected irregularities, prompting the need for a thorough examination of Dr Lodhi’s tenure.

Dr Ather Lodhi’s tenure as hospital director has been marred by controversy, with his term officially expiring on June 6, 2024. Despite this, he continued to serve in the role illegally, creating an unprecedented administrative and legal crisis.

In a related development, the BoG has formed an inquiry committee to investigate several critical issues within the hospital’s administration and finances.

This includes the alleged unlawful purchase of medicines and equipment worth Rs930 million.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court Abbottabad bench has declined interim relief to Dr Ather Lodhi. The petition was heard by Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal, with Sardar Aman Khan, Advocate representing the petitioner, and Khuram Ghyas and Sardar Irshad Advocates representing the respondents.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the BoG unjustly replaced Dr Lodhi with a junior officer lacking the required qualifications, referencing a similar case where interim relief was granted. However, the respondents' counsel countered that the previous order was inapplicable as Dr Lodhi had already been relieved of his duties.

They asserted that granting interim relief would effectively provide the main relief sought by the petitioner, which is not permissible under the law.