Dr Jan Baz’s arrest panics his colleagues
ASHFAQ YUSUFZAI — PUBLISHED about 10 hours ago
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PESHAWAR: The arrest of Dr Jan Baz Afridi, a former polio officer, by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission on charges of corruption has sent chill down the spines of those who held important positions in health department during the previous government, sources said.
They said that the arrest of Dr Jan Baz triggered speculations in the directorate of health as who would be next. About 12 doctors, who remained associated with Pakistan People’s Party and were appointed on key posts in the previous government, were likely to face the music, sources added.
“These doctors live beyond their known means of income and are being investigated by members of Ehtesab Commission,” they said. Widespread discussion among senior doctors, following Dr Jan Baz’s arrest by the commission, suggests that many others will soon be arrested.
The people, who remained at the helm of affairs, would be held accountable for making irregular appointments and misappropriated funds meant for the improvement of healthcare in the province, sources said.
Sources say about 12 doctors, appointed on key posts during the previous govt, are likely to face the music
The doctors, who can be arrested, include deputy directors, programme managers, medical and deputy medical superintendents in the former government as they didn’t fulfill the formalities. One of the doctors presently interrogated by the commission had got few bungalows as Marriage Hall.
Many in the directorate staff also feared action because they had been part of all decisions taken during the past 10 years or more, sources said.
A doctor, who has accumulated assets beyond his income and risked arrest, believes that the former health minister, on whose directives he allegedly made illegal appointments and took other important decisions, will come to his rescue, according to sources.
Sources said scores of administrative cadre doctors, who remained at the directorate of health during the past few years, also felt threatened by the commission because of being part of the significant decisions regarding purchases of equipment, acquisition of land and appointments.
Sources said that the commission was in the process of investigating doctors regarding their alleged corruption and irregularities. They could be arrested soon, they added.
The directorate of health has already provided relevant record to the commission about the doctors currently being investigated.
Sources said that main cases being investigated by the commission were related to Mother and Child Health Programme, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, HIV/Aids Control Programme, appointments and purchase off medicines and equipment in Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital, City Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad.
The doctors against whom interrogation are under process, know about their future.
They have also lost any hope after Jan Baz’s arrest as like them, he had also been appointed by the health minister.
The doctors, who performed their duty honestly, say that the drive should not stop till the accountability of all.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2015
Dr Jan Baz’s arrest panics his colleagues - Newspaper - DAWN.COM