ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court froze all inductions at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Monday.
The orders were given as the apex court took up a suo motu case regarding the theft of medicines from hospitals.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar inquired from the Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) State Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, why a head had not been appointed at PIMS yet.
The CADD minister informed the court that the post of the executive director was abolished after which it was formed again.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan lamented that the capital’s biggest hospital was being run without a head.
The additional attorney general informed the court that a summary for appointing the heads of PIMS and Polyclinic has been sent to the prime minister’s office. He added that the premier, who is abroad, will return today and approve the summary in a day or two.
The chief justice remarked that they can summon the prime minister’s principal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad to ask him about the matter.
Addressing Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the chief justice remarked that the number of hours wasted on political rallies can be spent on work, adding that on one hand Parliament’s quorum is left incomplete and on the other, your office work is lacking as well.
The CJP remarked that an oxygen cylinder worth Rs 5,000 had been bought for Rs 22,000.
“It is a big development that Rs 3 crore in this case have been recovered,” he said. During dialogues with Chaudhry, the CJP remarked that without the court’s intervention “no proceedings are done”.
“Are you a medical doctor?” CJP questioned Chaudhry. “Yes, I am a medical doctor,” he responded. “So then people like you, who are educated should be deployed in such institutions,” the CJP remarked.
The CJP further remarked that in this country people want to fight elections through jobs and recruitment. “Those who get jobs, their families will then be voting for the ones who got them employment.”
The SC ordered the government to halt recruitment in governmental hospitals. At this, the minister of state showed concern and asked for the judgement to be reviewed again. The CJP remarked that the current government only had two more months left in power. “The next elected government can decide on the matter of speeches when they come,” he added.
Published in Daily Times, March 20th 2018.