ISLAMABAD: The anti-corruption circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday took into custody four ex-officials of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and issued notice to one of its former registrars in a fake registration certificates case.

It is alleged that during former registrar Dr Nadeem Akbar’s tenure (2008-12), 63 fake certificates were issued to foreign graduates who had completed their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses from Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan and China.

An FIA official requesting anonymity said it had been learnt that the doctors had completed their graduation from countries in which English was not official language. Under the rule, they had to clear the National Examination Board (NEB) test in Pakistan which is conducted by the PMDC.

“It was learnt that a number of graduates just paid Rs11,000 examination fee and got registration certificates. Moreover, there were a number of graduates who failed to clear NEB exam despite attempting till 2010. But certificates were issued to them which stated that they had cleared exams in 2007,” he said.

According to the FIA notice issued on May 8, (copy available with Dawn), Dr Nadeem Akbar has been instructed to appear before the FIA.

An official of the PMDC requesting anonymity said four ex-employees of the council, who were allegedly involved in making forged certificates, were arrested on May 6.

“On Friday, the FIA took them into custody. The accused were Mazhar Mehmood (former front desk officer), Mehmooduddin (KPO), Arifur Rehman (KPO) and Mohammad Irfan Ahmad (peon of the ex-registrar),” he said.

Two of the ex-employees, Aftab Mehmood and Waseem Akram (peon), are still at large, he said.

When contacted, PMDC Registrar Dr Amjad Mehmood said in 2012 it was learnt that fake registration certificates had been issued. As a result, the employees were sacked and cases registered against them. However, they obtained bail before arrest.

“I have come to know that the court has rejected their bail, so on May 6 the Ramna police arrested the officials. On Friday, the FIA took them into custody.”

Dr Amjad said he had formed a three-member committee to examine the council record for finding fake registration certificates issued over the years.

He said cases had also been registered against more than 62 fake doctors.