ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday approved an inquiry against former health minister Amir Mehmood Kiani, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, several officials of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and officers of CDA.
The decision to initiate the inquiry against Mr Kiani was taken in NAB’s Executive Board Meeting (EBM), presided over by bureau’s chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal. The NAB decided to initiate inquiry against Amir Mehmood Kiani for his alleged role in increase in the drug prices. Chairman NAB Justice (R) Javed Iqbal issued the directions to NAB Rawalpindi for the inquiry against Amir Mehmood Kiani after the verification of complaint. Amir Mehmood Kiani served as Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination from August 2018 to April 2019 and was removed from the post by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Chairman NAB had taken a notice in April this year on the sudden increase of the drug prices which were increased from 100-300 percent and directed the NAB Rawalpindi to launch inquiry against the concerned officials of the Ministry of Health and Drug Regulatory Authority of the federal government.
Meanwhile, the EBM also approved to look into corruption complaints against Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza. The board approved corruption inquiries against several officials of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and officers of CDA.
Back in April, Prime Minister Imran Khan had chided his special assistant on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, over exhibiting non-serious behaviour before the Supreme Court (SC). The premier’s reaction came after the SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza showed non-serious behaviour during his appearance before the top court.
The apex court, while hearing a suo motu case on 13 April related to the situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis, had expressed displeasure over the performance of Dr Zafar Mirza in dealing with coronavirus pandemic. The court had also asked the federal government to remove Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza from his post.
According a statement of the anti-graft watchdog, the NAB chairman maintained that the corruption is the root of all evils and big obstacle in the progress of the country. It added that Javed Iqbal also introduced reforms to improve the performance of NAB.
“Transparency International, PILDAT and the World Economic Forum also praised the performance of the corruption watchdog body,” the statement stated.
“NAB is committed to eradicating corruption from the country. At present, 1229 corruption references of more than Rs 900 billion are filed in the accountability courts. The public and other institutions have expressed satisfaction over the performance of NAB,” he explained.
After taking over the post, Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal took notice of corruption cases such as 56 companies of Punjab, flour and sugar scandals, increase in medicine prices, fake housing societies and many other major corruption cases. NAB also resolved 3500 complaints by holding open courts against corruption.
