PMDC registrar faces misconduct allegations

ISLAMABAD:

Serious allegations have surfaced against the registrar of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), including claims of illegally increasing lawyers' fees by up to 100%, violating the PMDC Act 2022, and unlawfully presiding over judicial proceedings.

PMDC director legal has written a formal letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, raising concerns over alleged misconduct by Registrar Dr Rehan Asghar.

The letter claims the registrar prepared a self-styled agenda without consulting the legal department and allegedly secured council approval for fee increases by concealing key facts.

The communication further alleges that these actions led to financial losses worth millions to the national exchequer. It also accuses the registrar of shielding lawyers involved in issuing bogus invoices instead of exposing them.

The registrar is also accused of misusing authority, including assuming the role of a "competent authority" despite being a temporary employee. The letter states that subordinate officers were allegedly compelled to refer to the registrar as the competent authority in official correspondence.

Additional allegations include illegal interference in registration, licensing, and inspection processes, as well as irregularities in appointments.

A legal adviser was reportedly appointed without advertisement or merit, violating Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. The adviser was allegedly paid a hefty retainer fee without tax deductions.

However, Dr Rehan Asghar has strongly rejected all allegations, calling them baseless.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, he stated that all decisions are taken by the council with the approval of its president and strictly in accordance with rules and merit. He added that the complainant's tenure at the PMDC was only around two weeks, excluding holidays, making the allegations irrelevant.

"I am consulting legal counsel to file a defamation case against the director legal," he added.