Serious allegations of PTI interference, irregular appointments and financial mismanagement have surfaced at Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) in Peshawar, with hospital employees calling for an independent investigation into the institution’s governance, recruitment and procurement practices.
According to allegations attributed to hospital employees, Board of Governors (BoG) Chairman Dr Wajid resigned around eight months ago amid disputes over the alleged actions of Dr Sajjad Dawar and members associated with the Insaf Doctors Forum (IDF).
The allegations further claim that Dr Rubina Gillani, described by the complainants as the wife of PTI Senator Noman, subsequently assumed the role of chairperson without proper authority. She is accused of facilitating Dr Dawar’s appointment to five administrative positions simultaneously, raising questions about the hospital’s management structure and oversight.
One Doctor, Five Positions at KTH
According to the claims, Dr Sajjad Dawar was assigned acting or additional charge of the following positions:
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Hospital Director
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Associate Hospital Director
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Chairman, Purchase Committee
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Chairman, Appointment Committee
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Member, Management Committee
The complainants question how a doctor described in the statement as a junior clinical assistant professor in the neurosurgery department could hold several senior administrative responsibilities at the same time.
They have called on the relevant authorities to clarify whether these appointments complied with applicable rules and whether the assignments were properly authorised.
Allegations of Procurement Irregularities
The employees allege that Dr Rubina Gillani and Dr Sajjad Dawar were involved in purchases worth millions of rupees for the Sehat Card programme and the hospital pharmacy over the past 18 months.
According to the allegations, some purchases were made through quotations from a preferred supplier without open tendering or public advertisements. The claims have prompted calls for a review of procurement records, contracts and payment documents.
These allegations have not been independently established. The relevant procurement records and responses from the officials concerned would be needed to determine whether any rules were violated.
Questions Over Recruitment and Regularisation
The complainants also allege that around 20 employees were initially recruited on a daily-wage basis for Sehat Card-related work without public advertisements or interviews and were subsequently regularised after approximately two months.
They further claim that administrative officers and hospital managers faced pressure, including the threat of inquiries, and that some were forced to resign while preferred candidates were appointed to important positions.
In another allegation, Dr Dawar is accused of recruiting 120 Class-IV employees last month. The complainants have asked authorities to examine the recruitment process, including whether vacancies were advertised, eligibility criteria were followed and appointments received the required approvals.
Salary and Allowances Under Scrutiny
The statement also raises questions about an alleged monthly payment of Rs300,000 and petrol benefits received by Dr Dawar during the period in which he reportedly held multiple administrative assignments.
The employees have demanded an audit to establish the legal basis for these payments and determine whether any amount is recoverable.
They have also alleged that an earlier inquiry involving Dr Dawar at the Anti-Corruption Establishment was halted during the PTI government. The status and procedural history of that inquiry require confirmation from the relevant authorities.
Five Demands to the KP Government
The complainants have urged the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Health Adviser Major General (retd) Nigar Johar to take action on the allegations.
Their demands include:
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Removal of Dr Rubina Gillani: The complainants want her membership of the KTH Board of Governors reviewed and seek her removal over alleged political influence and irregularities.
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Review of Dr Sajjad Dawar’s appointments: They want him removed from the five administrative positions and assigned duties in line with his substantive clinical role, subject to applicable rules.
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Independent financial investigation: They have called for the Auditor General, Anti-Corruption Establishment and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to examine recruitment, pharmacy and Sehat Card purchases, and tender contracts awarded during the past 18 months.
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Audit of payments and benefits: They seek an examination of the alleged monthly Rs300,000 payment and petrol benefits, with recovery of any amounts found to have been paid unlawfully.
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Resumption or review of the anti-corruption inquiry: They want the relevant authorities to verify the status of the pending inquiry and proceed in accordance with the law.
