Rich or poor?: Medical funding to fake claimant cancelled

Sahiwal resident had sought Rs4 million to travel to India for kidney transplant.

MULTAN:

The Punjab government on Saturday cancelled a Rs4 million grant for a man who wanted a kidney transplant operation in India.

Muhammad Abdul Majeed, a resident of Sahiwal, had earlier appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to provide him the aid, stating that he was a poor man and could not afford the cost of the treatment.

However, an inquiry by the Sahiwal district coordination officer (DCO) revealed that Majeed was a well-off businessman, with a monthly income of Rs200,000. A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA) had reportedly recommended Majeed’s application for assistance.

Majeed had claimed that he had been suffering from a chronic kidney disease and wanted to travel to India for a kidney transplant procedure. Upon receiving his request, the Punjab government had ordered the local revenue department staff to verify Majeed’s financial position. The revenue officials reported that Majeed only earned Rs10,000 a month.

On May 28, the Punjab CM approved Majeed’s request for financial assistance and ordered the Finance Department to release Rs4 million for him.

After getting an assurance from the district government about the grant, Majeed flew to India on June 4 at his own expense. He is still in India.

On June 11, the Punjab finance secretary sent the case to Sahiwal Finance Executive District Officer (EDO) Saqib Ali Ateel.

Ateel refused to release the funds and informed his superiors that Majeed had lied in his application. However, he was transferred, allegedly on the demand of the MPA who had put forward Majeed’s case.

Sahiwal DCO Dr Sajid Mehmood Chohan ordered an into the issue. The inquiry confirmed that Majeed was a well-known businessman of Sahiwal district and owned a retail store and bakery. After the new inquiry’s findings, the Punjab government cancelled the assistance.

Finance EDO Ateel has been transferred back to his post, official sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2014.