PMDC legal chief raises allegations of rule violations, corruption in council

ISLAMABAD: The head of the legal department of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has approached several offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, with allegations of rule breaches, corruption and irregular practices within the council.

According to the application, which was sent to the PM Office, the health minister, the health secretary, the Supreme Court Human Rights Cell and the Public Accounts Committee, the PMDC legal department is dealing with more than 6,000 court cases that the applicant linked to alleged mismanagement.

The application, filed by the legal official who has since been dismissed by the PMDC management, alleges that the registrar increased professional fees and charges for external lawyers by as much as 100 per cent from the PMDC budget without consent, authorisation or a note sheet from the legal department.

The applicant said this had caused continuing losses to the public exchequer. He also accused the registrar of facilitating corrupt practices involving a PMDC lawyer who allegedly issued bogus fee invoices in legal cases. “This malpractice was highlighted by the finance department in Feb 2026. Considering its seriousness, the undersigned suggested to the management to issue an explanation letter to the concerned lawyer through the legal department. However, Dr Rehan opposed this action and stopped the undersigned, which is revealing his support and favour for corrupt practices,” the application added.

The application further claims that, without the knowledge of the PMDC president and council members, the registrar directed subordinate officers to address him in official correspondence as the competent authority. It also alleges that he had been approving official note sheets without referring them to the president, which the applicant said was required under the law.

Another allegation in the application is that around 15 permanent and temporary PMDC officers were made to work from home and were not being allowed to enter the office because of what the applicant described as a personal grudge. The application says this situation was creating unrest and anxiety among the officers.

It also alleges that a number of officers were removed from service in violation of the Employee Service Regulations 2023, leading to extensive litigation against the council. According to the application, some of those officers were later reinstated by courts with strict directions, which it said caused embarrassment for the PMDC.

Registrar rejects allegations

PMDC Registrar Dr Rehan Naqvi rejected the allegations in a written response. He said all proceedings were being conducted purely on merit and in line with rules and regulations, after review by the president and the council.

Dr Naqvi also said that all decision-making was being carried out by the council. He further stated that the director legal had remained at the PMDC for almost two weeks only, excluding holidays, and therefore his objections and allegations were irrelevant.

The allegations and the registrar’s response present sharply differing accounts of the council’s internal functioning, including legal management, administrative authority and personnel decisions.