GUJRAT: University of Gujrat Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ziaul Qayyum has sacked Nawaz Sharif Medical College Principal Dr Zafar Iqbal Gill for financial irregularities and alleged negligence into the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH) affairs.

The Punjab government on the other hand suspended from service ABSTH Medical Superintendent Dr Shahid Maroof for inefficiency and misconduct and initiated proceedings against him under the removal from service law.

Sources said the VC took the action on the direction of the Punjab Health Secretary Najam Shah who visited the hospital along with Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique on Wednesday.

The Punjab government has also ordered an inquiry into the financial affairs of the NSMC and the health secretary will conduct the inquiry.

College’s Finance Officer Azhar Majeed will aIso be probed by the authorities.Sources said the minister and the health secretary found the service delivery unsatisfactory and discrepancies in administrative issues during their visit to the hospital.

Sources said ABSTH’ s management was not comfortable with `frequent’ inspections by the deputy commissioner and other administrative officers. Local chapters of the Pakistan Medical Association and the Young Doctors Association have also been expressing concerns over`undue’ involvement of the administration in the hospital affairs.

It is learnt that DC Muhammad Ali Randhawa has sought removal of the MS on administrative grounds.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2017