Interviews for hospital director post suspended

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Appellate Tribunal on Friday suspended the interview process for the position of hospital director at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) Peshawar and sought responses from all respondents.

The tribunal summoned HMC’s legal adviser to assist in the proceedings.MTI Appellate Tribunal Chairman Justice (Retd) Abdul Shakoor and member Mansoor Tariq heard an appeal filed by Dr Khalid Mehsud.

The appeal named the Board of Governors of HMC Peshawar, and Chairman of the Selection Committee, Prof Dr Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, as respondents.In the petition, filed through Advocate Habib Anwar, Dr Khalid Mehsud argued that despite having extensive experience, including four years at Lady Reading Hospital, and holding key positions at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad and Life Care Hospital and Research Institute Peshawar, he was excluded from the interview process. He was currently serving as the Hospital Director at MTI Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi.

According to the appeal, Dr Mehsud applied for the hospital director position at HMC and was shortlisted among 13 candidates. However, the selection committee, headed by an official from the University of Peshawar, recommended interviews for only five candidates, excluding Dr Mehsud. The appeal contended that this exclusion was illegal and intended to favour a preferred candidate for the position.

The petition also challenged the composition of the selection committee, asserting that it violated MTI Regulations, specifically Regulation 4, as the committee’s head was appointed from outside the institution. The appeal requested the tribunal to nullify the committee’s actions and ensure the petitioner was called for an interview.

After hearing the initial arguments, the tribunal directed all parties to submit their comments. It also summoned HMC’s legal counsel for further clarification. The tribunal suspended the interview process for the position and adjourned the hearing.