Staff Reporter
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday submitted its report in the Lahore High Court (LHC) in the case of alleged insertion of expired stents into heart patients at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).
The FIA, in its report submitted in the LHC, stated that as many as 66 substandard heart stents were seized by the agency from Mayo Hospital Lahore back in 2017.
Two cases were registered in the scandal and these cases were moved to the drug inspector, who did not forward any application for legal action, the report said. “Further action has to be taken by the Punjab Drug Authority as per drug act.”
Furthermore, the FIA has said that there is no ongoing inquiry against PIC head Saqib Shafi.
The issue came to light when the PIC deputy medical superintendent (stores) in a letter to the medical superintendent revealed that expired stents were inserted into several patients at the health facility.
In the last hearing, a state counsel had submitted replies on behalf of the Punjab government and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as Justice Ali Baqir Najafi resumed hearing into the stents scandal.
He had informed the court that the government has constituted a committee to probe the scam.
Meanwhile, the National Accountability Court ordered a senior bureaucrat to present record of all the companies and other firms registered in his or his relatives’ names.
Senior bureaucrat barrister Nabeel Awan appeared before NAB investigators in Lahore on Thursday in an asset beyond means reference.
Sources informed that the NAB had sent a call-up notice to Mr Awan asking him to bring the record of his father’s land property in Bhai Kot, Lahore.
Before this, the anti-corruption body also demanded record of all the assets of his kin including his father, mother, wife, daughter and sons.
Nabeel Awan is working as additional secretary National Health Service. Meanwhile, a review meeting on Punjab Government’s Annual Development Plan (ADP) 2021-22, chaired by the Chairman Planning and Development Board Mr. Abdullah Khan Sumbal was held at the Planning and Development Department, Lahore.
The meeting focused on reviewing the portfolio of Punjab’s Development Schemes and status of ADP 2021-22 regarding allocated budget, releases, and utilization.
The Chair reviewed the development profile of Punjab and pushed up the Departments to continue with keen and focused efforts in their respective sectors to make sure the proper utilization of public funds.
