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Rs 1.44m scam unearthed in Institute of Public Health
By Amer Malik
LAHORE
A financial scam about withdrawal of Rs 1.445 million through unauthorised cheques has been unearthed at the Institute of Public Health, Lahore, says a letter written to the Punjab health secretary.
According to the letter, cheques worth Rs 1.445 million meant to carry out various research projects, funded by foreign agencies, have been withdrawn allegedly with the assistance of Dr Shaheena Manzoor, former dean of the Institute of Public Health, who was not authorised to permit any transaction at the time of withdrawal of the funds.
Dr Rizwana Muzaffar, the incumbent dean of the Institute of Public Health, said in his letter that Dr Shaheena Manzoor, and two other signatories — Dr Rubina Sarmad and Dr Ilyas Ahmed Faridi - were not authorised to carry out any transaction after December 11, 2008 - the date of LPR (leave prior to retirement) of Dr Shaheena Manzoor. However, she allegedly resorted to defalcating Rs 1.445 million by encashing three cheques on different dates in January 2009.
The incumbent dean, who took charge of the office on December 11, 2008, said in his letter that despite repeated requests, the outgoing dean Prof Dr Shaheena Manzoor had not given any handover note or briefing regarding various official matters and projects, being run by the Institute. However, it was a matter of grave concern that no details of funds for various projects, being maintained in different bank accounts, no financial statements, the bank account numbers or cheque books were handed over to him. There was documentation/correspondence available in the dean’s office regarding these projects and their funds received or disbursed.
The funds for two projects - “Reproductive Health and Islam”, funded by Leadership Development Management Group and “Smoke Free Home”, funded by Primary Trust Care, Leads, UK - were transferred by the funding agencies to the current account No.01011886-2 entitled IPH (LDM), Bank Alfalah, Shadman Branch, Lahore.
The projects signed between the Institute and the sponsoring agencies were not carried out in personal capacities. The IPH dean, by virtue of designation, was made the authorised signatory for transaction of bank account and Dr Rubina Sarmad, Associate Professor, IPH, as second signatory by name.
As mentioned earlier Dr Shaheena Manzoor availed LPR on December 10, 2008, and knowing fully well that the transaction of above mentioned bank account were strictly official (could not be indulged in withdrawal of amounts) encashed Rs 400,000 on January 10, 2009 and Rs 860,000 on January 13, 2009, totalling Rs 1,260,000.
Besides, another current account No.2011203577 entitled IPH, Soneri Bank, Lahore, contained the funds for the project entitled “Burden of Disease and Environmental Pollution”, funded by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The authorised signatories for transaction are Dean IPH (by designation) and Dr Ilyas Ahmed Faridi, Associate Professor, IPH, as second signatory by name. Both of them drew Rs 185,000 from the said account on January 19, 2009. The cheque bears the signatures of Dr Shaheena and stamp of Dean, IPH.
From the foregoing, it was written, it is crystal clear that Dr Shaheena Manzoor, Dr Rubina Sarmad and Dr Ilyas Ahmed Faridi have acted in a clandestine manner and have caused a huge loss of Rs 14.45 lakh to the exchequer.
When contacted, the incumbent dean, Dr Rizwana Muzaffar, showed reluctance to comment on the matter.
However former dean, Prof Dr Shaheena Manzoor, said they had issued a cheque worth Rs 100,000 meant for a research project of Provincial AIDS Control Programme, but the said amount was returned to the Institute of Public Health. However, she expressed ignorance about the issuance of three cheques worth Rs 14.45 lakh after her LPR on December 10, 2008, dubbing it as an allegation against her.
Talking to The News, Health Secretary Anwaar Ahmed Khan said the department had sent the case to the Anti-Corruption Establishment.
The News: Saturday, June 27, 2009
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