ISLAMABAD: After approaching a National Assembly’s committee, former director general health Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai approached the health ministry against the “biased” behaviour of a former health secretary.

In a letter, written to incumbent secretary Nadeem Mehbub, Dr Baseer claimed that he was repatriated to Balochistan on the orders of ex-secretary Iftikhar Ali Shalwani despite the fact that he was absorbed in the federal government and his seat in the province had been abolished.

While seeking a personal hearing and verification of missing documents from his file, he claimed that a report was submitted to the Islamabad High Court by the ministry, which incorrectly stated that he had been working on deputation since 2008.

“The ministry withdrew my absorption in 2023 after a lapse of 15 years, despite never relieving me after the mandatory five-year deputation period. The report stated that my personal file was missing until 2021-22. If that was the case, on what basis were my services repatriated, and which documents were used as justification in the absence of my file,” he asked.

He alleged that the former secretary also ‘manipulated’ his record since the latter was involved in ‘malpractices’. “...the possession of an official jeep [by former secretary] since April 2024 is an example,” Dr Baseer claimed.

It is worth mentioning that in December last year, a member of the NA committee, Dr Darshan alleged that former health secretary Shalwani sent six summaries to the prime minister during the caretaker government bypassing the caretaker health minister, Dr Nadeem Jan. The summaries were regarding the increase in the prices of drugs and the registration of a medical college. During the meeting, Dr Darshan claimed that Dr Achakzai had brought the issue to the notice of the minister, but he was removed from his post and made an OSD (officer on special duty).

“The ministry should call him, listen to him, and address the issue. His crime was that he pointed out that summaries were moved to the PM, bypassing the health minister,” he had said.

Dr Achakzai told Dawn that every summary had to mention that the “minister has seen and authorised the summary” but six summaries were sent to the caretaker prime minister without taking the minister into confidence.

“As I had pointed out as a whistleblower, Dr Jan took up the issue with then [caretaker] PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar. The summaries included raising the prices of medicines and also the registration of a medical college,” he alleged, adding that he was subsequently removed from the post.

According to Dr Achakzai, he was absorbed into the National Institute of Health (NIH) in 2011 and an ordinance in 2014 was promulgated to absorb 16 officers from different ministries in the federal government, and it also contained his name.

When contacted, former secretary Iftikhar Shalwani termed the allegations “baseless.”

“The fact is that Dr Baseer was repatriated to Balochistan as it was proved that he forged his documents to get himself absorbed in the federal health ministry. Thousands of employees were working under me, so why would I become personal with one employee,” he added.

In response to an allegation that he had been in possession of an official vehicle, the former secretary said he had returned the official vehicle. “I am preparing for my retirement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2025