Ex-DG health’s pre-arrest bail extended

PESHAWAR: Special Anti-Corruption Judge Asif Rasheed on Monday extended the pre-arrest bail of former director general of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukat Ali, till June 30 and directed the Anti-Corruption Department to submit the complete case record.

During the hearing, Shaukat Ali was represented by Babar Khan Yousafzai.The counsel argued that despite multiple written requests, neither a copy of the first information report (FIR) had been provided to the petitioner nor were any relevant officials being produced in the court.

Yousafzai told the court that his client, a retired government officer, was accused of benefiting from dual employment of doctors allegedly working simultaneously at the DHO office and receiving double salaries.

However, he contended that all relevant employment records were available with the Anti-Corruption Department and there was no evidence that his client personally benefited from the matter.

He argued that Shaukat Ali had resisted attempts by certain groups to bypass merit in the procurement of medicines for government hospitals. “When my client refused to comply with irregularities, the medical supply mafia turned against him,” Yousafzai said, adding that an inquiry had already concluded that the supplier companies had failed to deliver the goods.

The counsel informed the court that his client had obtained a stay order from the Peshawar High Court in a related matter, but the Anti-Corruption Department filed a fresh case to undermine the court’s directives.

Addressing allegations related to procurement for the Timergara Medical College, Yousafzai said there was no substance to the claims, as both records and physical inventory confirmed the legitimacy of purchases made during Shaukat Ali’s tenure.

“Even the deputy commissioner of Lower Dir has verified that nothing was done in violation of rules,” he added.Despite these facts, he said, his client was being subjected to political victimization. He said that a proper legal defense could not be mounted without access to the FIR or supporting documents. The senior prosecutor for the Anti-Corruption Department informed the court that the case record would be submitted at the next hearing.