LAHORE: The Chief Minister’s Secretariat has ordered an inquiry into charges of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of authority against Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan, the medical superintendent of Children’s Hospital Multan, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The charges were made by a security guard, Abdul Hamid, and senior clerk Shahid Saeed to Nadeem Hassan Asif, the chief minister’s principal secretary. Asif has directed a deputy secretary at the CM’s Secretariat to investigate the allegations.
The MS has been accused of taking a 30 per cent commission on development works at the hospital and of withdrawing Rs1 million in bogus claims for repair and maintenance of machinery and travel with the help of office superintendent Ahmed Hassan Zaidi.
He allegedly drew extra payments in the lieu of petroleum and diesel consumption at the hospital, and purchased equipment and medicines at high rates in violation of the rules. The purchases were made through MS Traders and Amer Traders, companies allegedly operated by his nephew.
The MS also allegedly set up a laboratory in front of the hospital from which patients were compelled to get tests. Further, he allegedly provided illegal electricity, gas and water connections to neighbouring buildings and collected money from them personally, running up average monthly utility bills for the hospital of Rs1 million.
Health Secretary Captain (r) Arif Nadeem is conducting a separate inquiry into the charges, a Health Department official said. The secretary heard testimony from the complainants and officials of the hospital administration on Saturday, he added.
The medical superintendent said he knew nothing about any inquiry.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2013.