Federal Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department here today expressed serious disappointment over mention of her name in a press release issued by National Accountability Bureau alongwith President PM&DC in the matter of recognition of medical and dental colleges. She said at no point was any query sent to her by NAB prior to according approval of initiation of inquiry by the NAB Executive Board. As Federal Minister and public representative it was her basic right to be heard before any decision to initiate fact finding was made, the Minister said. Let it be clear that a Minister has no role whatsoever and is not involved in any manner in any process related to recognition of medical colleges, the Minister added. Recognition of medical and dental colleges is the exclusive domain of PM&DC an autonomous regulatory body. It is regrettable that my name has been clubbed with President PM&DC in a matter where the Minister has no authority or role. I am not addressing this press conference to avoid accountability rather I request Chairman NAB to initiate the inquiry on immediate basis and conclude it in fifteen days. My family has been in politics for the last one hundred years and takes pride in its impeccable reputation. In my decade long political career I have upheld merit, fairplay and highest level of transparency I have always believed in strengthening of institutions by according them utmost importance and cooperation as per law and policy. Needless to mention that respect for law has been my forte, she said. The Minister informed that she was writing a letter to Chairman NAB expressing her shock and disappointment over mention of her name in NAB press release and to request for conclusion of any fact finding by NAB within fifteen days so that it does not affect her campaign for the upcoming elections which she intends to contest Insha Allah, she added. *****
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