ISLAMABAD: In a statement released on Tuesday, the Pakistan Association of Private Medical and Dental Institutions (Pami) has said the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) management is involved in illegal practices and has appointed a registrar who was dismissed from a government job on corruption charges.

The statement was issued a day before the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court in which the president of the council, Dr Shabir Lehri, has to record his statement regarding irregularities in private medical and dental colleges.

In the statement, Pami has alleged that the recently appointed registrar, Dr Wasim Hashmi, was involved in corruption and was therefore let go.

The allegation was made a day before PMDC president was to give SC his statement regarding irregularities in private medical colleges

Talking to Dawn, Pami spokesperson Amtiaz Aasi said that in Sept 2013, Dr Hashmi was working as district emergency officer and was removed by the Punjab government on charges of misconduct, corruption and inefficiency.

“Mr Hashmi was involved in embezzlement and misuse of government property. He did not pass on honorarium funds to the employees and did not even deposit it in the exchequer. He also embezzled a lot of money under the head of stationary,” he claimed.

In the statement, it is alleged that donations were collected for those affected in floods but records for this were not maintained. It goes on to say that Dr Hashmi opened two accounts in his name and deposited the exchequer money in it.

“He himself was involved in illegal appointments of employees and while he was in Lahore he converted the government office into his residence. Now officer, who was dismissed because of charges of corruption, has been appointed as Registrar PMDC which is nothing but violation of rules,” the statement reads.

Pami has appealed to the prime minister and Minister National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar to take notice and action against those involved in the appointment of the registrar.

Talking to Dawn, PMDC Registrar Dr Wasim Hashmi said the allegations were made against him because he was trying to stop corruption.

“I raised the issue of corruption in Rescue 1122 ambulances in 2013 and wrote letters to the Punjab chief minister and held press conferences. That is why the management made allegations of corruption against me and I was exonerated of those charges in the end,” he said.

“The truth is, I spoke against private medical colleges during a hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday and I said that once, PMDC was controlled by private medical colleges and they would fix a fee of their choice. That is why the statement against me was issued,” Dr Hashmi said.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Lehri said the statement was just an attempt to pressure the council management and said he will inform the apex court about mismanagement and irregularities in private colleges.

Dr Lehri has been called to give his statement in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

“Pami has a habit of taking issues to the courts so if it has concerns over the appointment of the registrar, it should go to the courts. We appointed the registrar on merit basis. Pami can also file a complaint with the council which will deal with it on merit basis as well,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2017