Two PMDC officers suspended after FIA begins corruption probe

Two officers of the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) have been suspended after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launched an investigation into a mega corruption scandal at the PMDC. Those whose services were suspended have been identified as Deputy Director (Legal) Saira Rubab Nasir and Verification Officer Sibghatullah.

Ordered by the FIA chief last week on the complaint of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, the enquiry is being conducted by Investigating Officer Kashif Riaz Awan under the supervision of FIA Islamabad Anti-Corruption Circle Deputy Director Afzal Khan Niazi.

Sources in the ministry said the enquiry has been launched to investigate the extortion of over Rs60 million by some PMDC officers against the outstanding payment of arrears of a federal allowance to the council’s employees, irregularities in the recognition of some medical/dental colleges, illegal registration of some unrecognised qualifications, etc.

The FIA has recorded statements of the affected employees and registered a criminal case against some as regards corruption and corrupt practices, including the extortion of over Rs60 million from fellow employees. It has advised the PMDC to take appropriate disciplinary action against these officials.

The FIA has also sought the PMDC’s records on the payment of the federal allowance arrears to the employees, details of medical colleges’ recognition since 2020, inquiry reports against Dr Azhar Shah and Fiza Tariq (web developer), and a list of doctors whose licences were suspended since 2021 before being restored.

Sources said departmental enquiries against all these officials are also pending. In the light of these allegations, Dr Shah has been removed from the charge of acting registrar and head of licensing department, and Saira as officer incharge of the legal department.

Sibghatullah has been transferred to the PMDC Peshawar regional office, while Fiza has been served with a show-cause notice over her alleged involvement in the illegal registration of some PMDC qualifications.