Complainants claim MS, office superintendent have been receiving kickbacks from contractors, bribes from recruits. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Health Department has initiated an inquiry into allegations of abuse of authority and embezzlement by Children’s Hospital Multan Medical Superintendent Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan and Office Superintendent Ahmed Hassan Zaidi, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The inquiry has been ordered on receiving two applications from Shahid Saeed and Abdul Hameed, both hospital employees, a Health Department official requesting anonymity said. The applicants said the medical superintendent and the office superintendent of the Children’s Hospital Multan were receiving kickbacks from contractors and abusing their authority for recruitments in the hospital.
The applicants said Khan had been receiving 40 per cent “commission” on all hospital supplies and allowing substandard material to be supplied to the hospital. They said the Health Department had provided a vehicle to Khan on his posting in the hospital in 2007, but he had been illegally receiving Rs2,480 conveyance allowance per month. The payment comes to Rs176,080. They alleged that Khan had allowed the hospital canteen to use electricity and gas at hospital’s expense.
The applicants said that Khan, in connivance with the account superintendent, had withdrawn bogus bills of Rs1 million for purchases for the hospital. They said Khan received Rs600 from each employee applying for a loan, whereas Zaidi was receiving Rs2,000 for the same.
The applicants said the duo were receiving Rs15,000 for each quotation and Rs5,000 for each local purchase from contractors through Zubair Bhatti, a peon. They said the theft of medicine from the Emergency Department and store was routine. The MS, they said, had awarded contracts for stationary, construction, diesel supply and canteen to his friends and family members in violation of rules.
The applicants said the MS had appointed Tabasher Hussain Naqvi, an assistant in BS-14 of the Dental Hospital, as an accountant to his hospital without any lawful authority.
A senior Health Department official, requesting anonymity, confirmed receiving the two applications. He said the department had decided to initiate an inquiry against Khan and Zaidi. He said the MS had been working in the hospital in violation of the 6th Schedule of the Punjab Government Rules of Business 2010.
When approached, Khan refused to comment on the allegations.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
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First freeze their and spouse's account. Confiscate their assets like houses, land. Then start investigation. Now a days the working dictum should be following. These people are thieves unless proven otherwise.
It is good to hear that these culprits have been exposed. The fact that there is increasing accountability in the Punjab is a good sign that awareness and action is being taken against corrupt people. No wonder why there is progress in Punjab more than other provinces.