NAB arrests official in mega corruption case

RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested Ayaz Ali Khan, Deputy Drug Controller, Punjab, in a mega corruption case. The officer is presently on deputation as Chief Operating Officer, Pakistan Drug Testing and Research Center.

The accused gave wrongful financial benefits to pharmaceutical companies/firms by increasing drug prices causing Rs441.8 million loss to the public at large. Ayaz has been found involved in corruption and corrupt practices as he being a member of 5th DPC meeting in connivance with other members and beneficiaries knowingly and dishonestly gave undue and illegal price increase to certain drugs in violation of Drug Act and rules/regulations.

Moreover, he in connivance with others members and beneficiaries did not even analyze/evaluate the data submitted by the pharmaceutical companies/firms in the light of rules and regulations while granting price increase.

As per report of the investigation officer Saleem Khan, in the same scam, the NAB has already arrested 12 persons namely Dr. Muhammad Ali (the then secretary cum member Drugs Pricing Committee), ex-member pricing (BPS-21) DRAP, Ahsan Feroze,  Arif Aziz Akhai, Amir Siddique, Saif-ur-Rehman & Khalil-ur-Rehman,  Rizwan Umer &  Muqtadir M. A. Javaid and others.