Gill pins Nawaz vaccine entry mishap on PML-N

Gill claims Maryam Nawaz and a group of Punjab MPAs behind a "conspiracy"

By Web Desk
September 25, 2021
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill addressing a press conference in Lahore, on September 25, 2021. — YouTube/HumNewsLive

LAHORE: A "conspiracy" of the PML-N is behind the fake coronavirus vaccine entry of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said Saturday.

The conspiracy was hatched to defame the country's coronavirus database, the special assistant said while addressing a press conference.

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Gill claimed PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz and a group of members of the Punjab Assembly had come up with the plan, and the MPAs made a man named Naveed responsible for the act.

"Naveed is a resident of Shad Bagh — an area in Lahore — and his entire family is a supporter of PML-N," the special assistant said.

Gill further stated that Lahore’s Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital, where the false entry was made, falls in the constituency of PML-N's Imran Nazir and Chaudhry Shahbaz.

Chaudhry Shahbaz had used his influence to get Adil Rafiq — a person suspected of involvement in the case — hired. "MPA Chaudhry Shahbaz will have to answer for this," Gill said.

The special assistant said that the MPA's social media account is filled with pictures of him posting with PML-N's MPAs. "The cancer of corruption has spread to every institution," he added.

Circling back to Naveed, Gill said that he had fled to Germany and the government would work to get him back.

PML-N had a plan in place under which they got their own people appointed in institutions, the special assistant alleged, adding: "Indian media highlighted the issue to malign Pakistan."

A fake coronavirus vaccine entry was made in the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) using Nawaz's name at the Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital in Lahore on Wednesday, September 22.

As per the fake entry, Nawaz, who is currently in London, got his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac at 4:03pm on Wednesday at the hospital.

'Fake vaccine, fake cases'

PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry, responding to Gill's remarks, said: "Not only did Nawaz Sharif's name get used for fake vaccines, but fake cases were also made against him."

The PML-N leader said Gill levels allegations against Maryam to boost his political stature. "Everything that is fake in the country has been brought by PTI — a fake leader, fake change, and a fake government."

Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari questioned claims of Maryam making changes to official records when it is the PTI in power. "If the PML-N really is that powerful even today, then you should pack your bags and go home," she said to the government.

Punjab govt suspends health officers

The Punjab government has suspended the Medical Superintendent (MS) and a senior doctor of the Lahore hospital in relation to the fake vaccine entry.

The suspended officers were directed to report to the health department immediately.

Moreover, cases were registered against three other hospital employees, two of which were arrested.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the police have registered separate cases in this regard.

According to the FIA cybercrime wing, watchman Abul Hassan and ward boy Adil used the ID of a third employee, Naveed, to enter former prime minister Nawaz's fake entry into the system.

Police have registered cases against the three suspects and arrested Abul Hassan and Adil.

In addition, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has summoned the Punjab health secretary to Islamabad in response to the development.

Report submitted to CM Buzdar

The provincial health authorities also prepared a report concerning the controversy and shared it with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, highlighting lapses in the hospital's monitoring and supervision systems.

“Four employees of the hospital admitted to making a fake entry of Nawaz Sharif's data,” stated the report, adding that no senior staff was deployed at the health facility and that the management had authorised lower-level staff to update the record.

Punjab's Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department took notice of the incident and wrote a letter to the FIA and asked it to investigate the matter and take necessary action against the culprits.

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