Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday directed the Secretary, Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), to submit a comprehensive inquiry report within two weeks regarding alleged gross corruption in the supply of oxygen, nitrogen gas and theft of medicines from hospitals.

The court also directed the secretary to submit a report pertaining to the status of machines being operative and otherwise in all the four hospitals of the federal capital run by the government.

The secretary, CADD, is also directed to make all the arrangements as per the rules and ensure that nitrogen gas does not fall short in the Poly Clinic Hospital.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal and Justice Mushir Alam took up the suo moto hearing. On the court’s call Secretary CADD Hassan Iqbal and FIA Director Mazharullah Khattak appeared.

During the course of the hearing the secretary, CADD, apprised the bench of the issues which are involved in the suo moto action and undertook that he shall take into account all aspects of the matter with regard to all the four institutions.

Justice Saqib Nisar observed that all the institutions should function with transparency, while Justice Ejaz Afzal observed that seemingly the audit of hospitals was done in connivance with the officials.

As far as the supply of nitrogen gas at the Poly Clinic is concerned, the court noticed that the contractor, who was making the supply, had procured some status quo order from the Court of Additional District Judge (West), Islamabad, Sayyed Faizan Haider and it is on account of the above that the new tender floated could not be opened.

The counsel for the contractor appeared before the bench and informed that he had moved an application to be arrayed as a party to the original proceedings. However, the court said that such an application would be considered.

But the court also directed the Additional District Judge to take up the matter on August 22 and dispose of the same. The court further ruled that the Advocates General of the Provinces should also provide details about the machines and other equipment in the DHQ Hospitals and their states of being operative before the next date fixed on September 6.