MIANWALI: An inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Khushab, is going on into allegations that the Mianwali district health officer (DHO) is having afake degree and a bogus registration certiñcate which he claims to have got from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

In his complaint, Mian Taj Din, chairman of Khangah Sirajia Union Council in Piplan tehsil, had alleged that Dr Sher Samand had joined the health department on fake degrees, including his MBBS.

He alleged Mr Samand had submitted a medicine degree from a Kazakhstan (Russia) university and a registration certificate (No 53376-P) from the PMDC.

Taj Din had filed application with the Mianwali deputy commissioner who ordered Health Executive District Officer (EDO) Dr Farooq Khan to inquire into the matter.

The health EDO reported to the DC, vide a letter, dated Dec 19, 2016, that he had got Samand`s MBBS degree verified from Kazakhstan Embassy, Islamabad, and registration certificate from the PMDC, terming them genuine.

After being disappointed by the district administration, Taj Din sent an application to the Punjab ACE which directed its deputy director in Khushab, Hafiz Badar Munir, to inquire into the matter before registration of a case.

The Khushab ACE sent all documents to the PMDC for verification. The PMDC verification officer, vide his letter dated July 27, 2017, a copy available with Dawn, replied that the registration certificate of Dr Sher Samand was fake. Moreover, the PMDC sent copies of an ad published in newspapers about cancellation of registration certificates of 34 doctors for holding fake degrees, including Dr Sher Samand at Serial No. 29 in the list.

When contacted, Syed Masood Hussain Shah, PMDC officer in Islamabad, also confirmed that documents of Dr Samand were fake. The same information was confirmed by the Khushab ACE deputy director who added that the investigation was in progress and it would finalised soon.

This scribe repeatedly tried to know the views of Dr Sher Samand about the allegations but he did not give his version. Correspondent