HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Thursday directed National Accountability Bureau’s chairman and its director general, Karachi, to “initiate an inquiry/investigation against health officer Abdul Sattar Jatoi as petitioner submitted enough proof against him having been involved in corruption and given a huge loss to government’s exchequer”.

Mr Jatoi was appointed as planning officer on March 16,1993 and posted in the Chandka Medical College, Larkana, and transferred to the Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, in 1994.

Amid a years-long scandalous controversy over his disputed postings and promotions, coupled with litigation, the SHC on March 3, 2023 ordered his removal from the LUH.

A petition filed by Jam Mohammad Lakho came up for hearing on Friday in the high court, which issued notices to respondents, the NAB chairman and special prosecutor, the Sindh chief secretary and secretaries of health, finance and universities & boards departments and the registrar of Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), besides Abdul Sattar Jatoi, for Sept 26 in the public interest litigation.

Petitioner’s prayer

The petitioner, through advocates Riazat Ali Sahar and Imtiaz Ali Panhwar prayed court to direct NAB chairman to expedite the inquiry it had initiated through a call-up notice dated Jan 25, 2019 Mr Jatoi’s alleged assets beyond known means of his income. He also prayed that the NAB chairman be directed to conduct a separate inquiry into the alleged preparation of a fake letter issued on Oct 28, 2021 for the release of Rs350m for the LUH.

Chief secretary also given one month’s time to complete inquiry against the hospital official

The petitioner has further prayed for an order to the chief secretary to expedite the inquiry against Mr Jatoi as per the CS’s Aug 16, 2022 directive and submit findings of his inquiry before court.

The petitioner sought court’s directive to the CS and finance secretary to abolish the BS-19 post of ‘director (administration, accounts & development) in the LUH as per the health department’s Nov 1, 2023 letter.

Senior judge’s directives

The junior judge, Justice Amjad Ali Bohio, ordered that “without issuance of directives let notice be issued first to respondents”. But, the senior judge, Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, issued a set of directives in addition to the notices. He directed NAB chairman and its Karachi DG to initiate an inquiry/investigation against Abdul Sattar Jatoi, observing that the petitioner had submitted enough proof regarding his alleged involvement in corruption and having caused a huge loss to the exchequer.

Justice Sahito ordered the CS to submit the report of an inquiry conducted by Mohammad Essa Memon, then chief instructor, training of management & research wing at the services, general administration & coordination department (SAGA&CD), as per the Aug 16, 2022 directive.

“If any inquiry is pending against officer, CS is directed to complete the same within a month from date of receipt of order and submit compliance report on or before next date of hearing,” the order said.

According to the petitioner, being a health department officer posted in LUH, Abdul Sattar Jatoi caused significant loss to the exchequer by indulging in corruption and his actions remained unchecked due to his political influence.

He submitted in court that being a BS-17 officer, Jatoi was assigned additional responsibilities of BS-16 administrative officer and held both the posts till Feb 2003. He was permanently assigned additional duties “which showed his intention to secure roles relating to ‘accounts and finance’ although he lacked expertise and necessary qualifications, the petitioner stated, adding that Jatoi’s designation of ‘planning officer’ was ‘altered’ on Oct 11, 2004 to ‘district officer (administration, accounts & development)’ in BS-19. Later, he was placed in surplus pool.

The petitioner informed court that the officer got a BS-19 clinical side post of ‘additional MS’ at LUH and re-designated as ‘director (administration, accounts & development)’.

The health secretary delegated drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) powers to him on May 30, 2017 in violation of rules, the petitioner claimed.

He stated that the respondent purchased medical and laboratory equipment worth approximately Rs3bn, and alleged that although payments were made, seven of them were not installed. He alleged that the officer managed issuance of fake letter dated Oct 28, 2021 for the release of Rs350m and an inquiry instituted by the health secretary confirmed that the fake letter was “managed by him”. Its findings were submitted to the CS, who appointed the chief inspector, training of management & research wing (SGA&CD) as the inquiry officer on Aug 16, 2022. Its findings have not been finalised as yet.

The petitioner recalled that an SHC order on March 3, 2023 led to Jatoi’s removal from LUH. He also recalled that the health secretary had written to the finance secretary on Nov 1, 2023 asking him to abolish the BS-19 post of ‘director (administration, accounts & development)’ from LUH’s budget book. This post was not abolished and Jatoi was still attempting to get this post, the petitioner stated.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2024