Nishtar Hospital: MS suspended on corruption charges

MULTAN: The Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department Monday suspended Medical Superintendent (MS) of Nishtar Hospital on corruption charges.

Dr Ashiq Malik is suspended over inefficiency and misconduct and he is directed to report to the PSHMED.

Dr Ashiq had been allegedly involved in massive corruption and fake purchase of life saving drugs.

Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Multan region, was investigating the corruption charges against Dr Ashiq and he was granted pre-arrest bail in this regard.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid had opposed his posting due to his alleged involvement in the corruption, but a delegation of parliamentarians met Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and insisted on his posting.

The ACE had lodged an FIR against him in a case of fake purchase of medicines worth Rs14.8 million when he was Executive District Officer Health (EDOH) at Muzaffargarh.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also probed charges of corruption, misconduct and embezzlement against the administrative heads of Nishtar Hospital, and in June 2018 seized the hospital record since 2015 relating to purchases, appointments and promotions.

The ACE officials said three inquiries were initiated against Dr Ashiq, and later cases were registered against him. ACE Director, Multan region, Amjad Shoaib Tareen was transferred over conducting investigation against Dr Ashiq.

The Services & General Administration Department had ordered immediate transfer of Amjad, but CM Buzdar ordered cancellation of his transfer.

There are reports that the MS had tampered the record of his corruption. However, the ACE investigated the cases against him.