Probe into theft of medicines in Bannu sought

BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local activists have called for a high-level investigation into the alleged theft of medicines worth millions of rupees and the illegal auction of government vehicles from the district health office (DHO).

Addressing a press conference at the Tehsil Secretariat on Sunday, PTI Bannu tehsil general secretary Malik Khalid Riaz Khan Mandan revealed that valuable medicines were stolen from the DHO office under mysterious circumstances. “No locks were broken and no trace or evidence was left behind. And only the expensive medicines have disappeared,” he stated.

He further alleged that 15 vehicles belonging to the Prime Minister’s health programme, along with several others linked to various government projects, were auctioned off illegally at throwaway prices. Malik Khalid claimed that local officials and staff at the DHO office were directly involved in the scam.

In addition to the theft and illegal sales, equipment and materials worth hundreds of thousands of rupees from old government buildings have also gone missing, he added.

Khalid Riaz criticised the local officials, accusing them of tarnishing the image of the PTI government. “The corruption is being done by officials and staff, but the blame falls on PTI simply because we are in government,” he added. He said that the PTI leadership would not tolerate those responsible for bringing disrepute to the party and demanded that all officers involved be immediately transferred.