PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has begun inquiries into alleged corruption and administrative irregularities against its senior officers, including the director-general (health services), on the recommendations of the National Accountability Bureau.

Those officers include DG Dr Shaukat Ali and former district health officers Dr Irshad Ahmad Roghani, Dr Fayyaz Romi, Dr Ikramullah Safi, Dr Haleemur Rehman and Dr Inayatur Rehman.

Officials told Dawn that the anti-graft watchdog had recommended inquiries against those officers after receiving complaints of financial and administrative irregularities against them from different quarters.

A notification issued by the health department said that inquiries had been initiated against DG (health services) Dr Shaukat Ali and former district health officer of Lower Dir Dr Irshad Ahmad Roghani over the alleged corruption, corrupt practices, illegal appointments and unlawful land purchase.

It added that a committee led by chief planning officer of the health department Qaisar Alam and comprising senior officers Dr Ikramullah Khan and Dr Sadiq Shah was formed to submit a report to the Health Secretariat within seven days.

Officials say NAB recommended inquiries after receiving complaints

The department has also begun an inquiry against DHO of Lower Chitral Dr Fayyaz Romi on the alleged corruption in funds allocated for the control and prevention of novel coronavirus.

A committee comprising the medical superintendent of the district headquarters hospital, Dargai, Lower Dir, Dr Daud Khan and DHO of Lower Dir Dr Khalid Khan will look into the allegation and submit a report to the health department within a week.

The department has also ordered an inquiry into the alleged illegal termination of a lady health visitor and illegal appointments by the medical superintendent of the district headquarters hospital in Wana, South Waziristan, and other officials and sought the inquiry report within seven days, read a notification.

Also on the NAB’s recommendations, the health department asked DHO of Kohat Dr Fazl Maula to hold an inquiry against the medical superintendent of Karak’s district headquarters hospital over the allegation of irregular appointments of Class IV employees and submit a report with recommendations to the Health Secretariat.

It has formed a “fact-finding inquiry committee” comprising Dr Azmatullah of the Health Foundation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Dr Sahibzada Mohammad Khalid of Swabi’s district headquarters hospital on the NAB’s complaint regarding alleged corruption by former North Waziristan DHO Dr Ikramullah Safi and dispenser Wakil Jan.

The committee has also been tasked with looking into the alleged unlawful appointments and salary payments and submitting the report to the Health Secretariat, according to a notification.

The department has asked Dr Khizar Hayat, director (maternal and neonatal child health) at the offices of director-general (health services), to probe the alleged irregularities in the appointment of dental surgeons on the contractual basis and submit the report along with recommendations.

It has directed Lakki Marwat DHO Dr Abdul Gul and medical superintendent of the Kohat DHQ Dr Mushtaq Ahmad to look into the allegations of illegal appointments and sale of equipment and medicines against Dr Haleemur Rehman at the Hangu and Lakki Marwat DHQs, while an inquiry has been launched against former DHO (Kurram and Central) Dr Inayatur Rehman over his alleged corruption.

DHO of Orakzai tribal district Dr Adnan Khan will look into the allegations and submit a report to the Health Secretariat, said a notification.

Sources in the health department told Dawn that inquiries were held against the officers in question and many others from time to time but most of which “remained inconclusive.”

They claimed that inquiries were expected to be launched into the alleged embezzlement of funds released by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic for the virus’s prevention and control.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023