Audit Raises Questions Over Lady Reading Hospital Appointment, Rs21.88 Million Paid Over 43 Months

An audit report has raised serious questions about the appointment of Muhammad Tariq to a senior administrative position at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), citing concerns over his qualifications, professional experience and the transparency of the selection process.

The report documented payments of Rs21.88 million to Tariq over 43 months, from January 2017 to August 2019, at a monthly salary of Rs508,892. It recommended a high-level inquiry, investigations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Department, and a review of possible recovery of the amount under applicable rules.

According to the audit, Tariq was appointed Associate Hospital Director through the Selection and Promotion Committee on January 16, 2017. The report questioned whether he met the eligibility criteria established for the position.

The required qualifications included a master’s degree in hospital or health services management, business management, public health or public administration, along with at least seven years of administrative-level experience.

However, the audit noted that Tariq had completed an MBA in 2010 and that his post-degree experience at the time of application and appointment fell short of the required seven years.

The report also identified discrepancies in the educational and professional documents submitted during the recruitment process. Differences were found between the employment periods listed on Tariq’s CV and experience certificates relating to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and the organisation Sahara.

The audit further noted that an experience certificate from Sahara was issued on December 16, 2008, while the employment period recorded in the document extended until January 20, 2009.

Based on the available record, the audit described the selection process as questionable and lacking transparency. It concluded that the appointment, despite the reported shortfall in required post-degree experience, may have deprived eligible candidates of the opportunity.

The report recommended a high-level investigation into the recruitment process, examination of the allegations by NAB, the Anti-Corruption Department and the government’s Inspection Team, and a review of the amount paid to determine whether recovery was warranted under the rules.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the appointment of a non-medical professional to lead the hospital. The issue reportedly came to light when Information Adviser Samar Haroon Bilour visited children injured in a school incident and learned that the hospital director was not a doctor.

The allegations have also raised questions about alleged favouritism in the appointment process and the decision by the previous PTI-led provincial government to place Tariq in the hospital’s top administrative role despite the audit objections.

The audit findings and recommendations indicate the need for an official response and an independent investigation to establish whether recruitment rules were violated and whether any public funds are recoverable.