The registrar allegedly secured the council’s approval of fee increases by concealing important facts
ISLAMABAD:
Serious allegations have surfaced against the registrar of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), including claims of illegally raising legal fees by up to 100%, breaching the PMDC Act 2022 and illegally presiding over legal proceedings.
PMDC director legal has written a formal letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raising concern over alleged misconduct by registrar Dr. Rehan Asghar.
The letter alleges the registrar drew up a self-imposed agenda without consulting the legal department and allegedly secured the council’s approval of fee increases by concealing important facts.
The notice further alleges that these actions led to financial losses worth millions to the national exchequer. It also accuses the Registrar of shielding lawyers involved in issuing false invoices rather than exposing them.
The registrar is also accused of abusing authority, including assuming the role of “competent authority” despite being a substitute. The letter states that subordinate officials were allegedly forced to refer to the registrar as the competent authority in official correspondence.
Additional allegations include unlawful interference with registration, licensing and inspection processes, as well as irregularities in appointments.
A legal adviser was allegedly appointed without advertisement or merit, in breach of Public Procurement Authority (PPRA) regulations. The adviser was allegedly paid a handsome outstanding fee without tax deductions.
Dr. However, Rehan Asghar has strongly denied all allegations and called them baseless.
Speaking to The Express Pakinomist, he stated that all decisions are taken by the council with the approval of its president and strictly in accordance with rules and merits. He added that the complainant’s employment at PMDC was only about two weeks, excluding holidays, which renders the allegations irrelevant.
“I am consulting with legal counsel to file a defamation case against the legal director,” he added.
