MULTAN: The Punjab government on Wednesday suspended from service the chief executive officers of district health authorities of Multan and Khanewal for allegedly committing irregularities and misappropriating funds.

Dr Ashiq Hussain Malik and Dr Muhammad Siddique Saqib were performing as CEOs in Multan and Khanewal, respectively.

Dr Malik is former medical superintendent of Nishtar Hospital and Dr Saqib is ex-additional MS (pharmacy). They are facing charges of irregularities and misappropriation of funds in connection with purchase of equipment and medicines for the hospital.

A committee constituted on the direction of the chief minister in its meeting held on Wednesday recommended suspension of the CEOs after the Federal Investigation Agency and Anti-Corruption Establishment in their initial probe held them responsible for theft of medicines and making unjustified purchase of drugs in violation of rules.According to sources, four inquiries are under way against Dr Malik for allegedly committing irregularities and misappropriation of funds.

They said the ACE so far scrutinised 17 medicine items that were purchased in huge quantity. A tablet used for cancer patients was bought in bulk which would be sufficient for 2025 but it carried 2019 expiry date.According to the [suspension] orders issued on Wednesday, both the officials have been suspended on charges of misconduct under section 6 of Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 which states that “an employee against whom action is proposed to be initiated may be placed under suspension for a period of 90 days, if in the opinion of the competent authority, suspension is necessary or expedient, and if suspension is not extended for a further period of 90 days within 30 days of the expiry of initial period of suspension, the employee shall be deemed to be reinstated, provided that the continuation of the period of suspension shall require the prior approval of the competent authority for each period of extension.”

Both the officials have been directed to report to primary and secondary healthcare department immediately while the additional charge of CEO Multan has been handed over to MS District Hospital Dr Zahid Akhtar who assumed office on Thursday.

A protest demonstration against the provincial government for suspending Dr Malik was held at Chowk Nawan Shaher which was attended by some doctors and paramedical staff.

A preliminary probe report identified irregularities in the purchase of medicines for the hospital by Dr Malik and other respective officials.

On Aug 24, an FIA team conducted a raid at a warehouse located near Bohar Gate and recovered bags of different medicines purchased for government departments, including Nishtar Hospital. The FIA claimed that the medicines were being dispatched to Peshawar.The initial report compiled by Nishtar Hospital Dr Abdul Rehman Qureshi stated that the detailed scrutiny of the purchase record for 2016-17 revealed that rules of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority were violated.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2017