Fake entry of Nawaz' vaccination: PEEDA proceedings launched against former MS, five other employees.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government has initiated disciplinary proceedings under the Punjab Employees Efficiency and Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act 2006 against former medical superintendent (MS) of the Govt Kot Khawaja Saeed Teaching Hospital, Dr Ahmad Nadeem, and five other officials for making fake entry of the Covid-19 vaccination in the name of PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif when he was in fact in London.

The other officials included former additional medical superintendent (emergency) of the hospital, Dr Munir Ahmad, ex-charge nurse Saba Riaz, ex-stenographer Rana Muzafar, ex-receipt clerk Naveed Altaf and ex-ward attendant Adil Rafique.

Reported in September 2021, the issue attracted attention of the power corridors and media coverage when the Covid-19 was at its peak and it was claimed that Nawaz had received the first dose of the vaccine in the hospital. At that time, he was living (in London).

'The chief minister Punjab/the competent authority, in due consideration of the facts and the recommendations contained in the probe report furnished by a committee on Sept 23, 2021 is of the consideration opinion that there are sufficient grounds to hold joint inquiry proceedings against the officials under Section 3 of the PEEDA Act 2006,' reads the official document.

It said the CM appointed Religious Affairs and Auqaf Department Secretary Mian Abrar Ahmad as an inquiry officer with the directions to complete the probe within the stipulated period of 60 days against the officials mentioned above.

A summary for action against the former MS and other officials suspended from service was sent to the CM through a letter and he approved it for further action.

While defining the role of the former MS, the official letter held him responsible for the fake entry of the vaccination. He was also accused of multiple discrepancies reported in the record of vaccination as no checks and balances had been put in place to ensure legitimate and genuine manual and online entries of administration of the Covid-19 vaccination.

No reconciliation of vaccination data was available in the hospital to ensure transparency, the letter said and added: 'Due to this slackness and careless attitude on your part, the department has been put into an embarrassing situation and this act on your part amounts to misconduct,' the letter said. He was further accused of posting inefficient staff in the vaccination room to execute the process of the...