Regulating regulators : FIA arrests four DRAP officials on fraud charges

ISLAMABAD:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday arrested four officials of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) for allegedly issuing fake registration letter to a pharmaceutical company. The arrested officials were identified as Faisal Shehzad, deputy controller pharmacy services; Tariq Siddqiue, deputy director registration; Khurshid Ahmed, assistant price controller; and Bashir Ahmed Bhatti, statistical officer. According to an FIA official privy to the investigation, the suspects were allegedly involved in issuing fake registration letter to Everest Pharmaceuticals for selling Everlong Tab for treatment of hepatitis C. The official said Muhammad Usman, owner of the pharmaceutical firm, was still at large. He said the company had been selling the medicine for the last one year on fake registration letter.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2015.