IHC informed PMDC record, equipment are missing

In a written report submitted before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), it was revealed that the important record of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), laptops and hard disc were missing.

The report was filed by PMDC Registrar Hafeez-ud-Din in connection with the ongoing case despite the restoration of the body.

The report says the record of various departments was missing, including keys, three laptops, hard disc and Wi-Fi device.

Moreover, five vehicles are also missing while there are no keys of the parked ones. Similarly, the keys of five houses owned by the PMDC have not been handed over yet.

The document says the now-defunct Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) secretary and the health ministry were informed about the situation. However, no reply was given by the ministry.

Similarly, Dr Arsalan Haider – the secretary of defunct PMC – refused to visit himself and asked to contact the health ministry.

According to the report, the PMDC since its restoration has issued 1,000 registration certificates while 6,500 applications are still pending.

The registrar in his report said that the PMDC had started working with a limited staff of 45 because of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that all the regional offices had been made functional in Karachi, Lahore and other cities.

On March 30, the IHC had ordered the restoration of PMDC, which was dissolved through a presidential order in October last year.

It also declared the formation of PMC illegal – the body formed to replace the PMDC.

However, the government since then has been using various tactics to delay the process, including an application submitted before the IHC with an argument that the appointment of PMDC Registrar Hafeez stood null and void.