Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday ordered the Lahore High Court (LHC) registrar office to schedule a hearing for a case filed by a retired army officer against former army chief General (r) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in relation to a medical scandal.
In his petition, Lt Col (r) Inamul Rahiem has accused the former COAS of shutting down the legally established Armed Forces Medical Store Depot to instead manufacturing, supplying and procuring substandard and counterfeit medicines. The Ministry of Defence, General (r) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Lt General (r) Athar have been made respondents in the case.
The petitioner has appealed to the court to order a complete audit of these medicines which were tendered, purchased and procured at 27 Combined Medical Hospitals.
Earlier the Supreme Court (SC) registrar had refused to take up the petition over a few objections after which the retired colonel had appealed against the registrar’s decision.
The CJP while hearing the appeal directed the LHC registrar to fix a date for the petition’s hearing in court. “I am confident that the learned LHC shall decide the matter efficiently,” he said while, adding the case is not covered under Article 184(3) of the constitution.
“During his [Athar’s] stay as corps commander Karachi, he came across certain medicine manufacturers and knew their business technique and after his retirement from [the] armed forces he decided to set up a business of medicines,” states the petition while further adding that Athar had also solicited former Lt Col Naveed’s help with regard to the illegal business.
Published in Daily Times, July 13th 2018.
