Hepatitis Program Provincial Manager dismissed following torture allegations

Health Department Sindh has decided to dismiss Provincial Manager, Hepatitis Prevention & Control Programme Sindh, and relieve him of his duty for torturing journalists, and a number of other complaints registered against him.

According to sources, the staff of Hepatitis Program Sindh allegedly subjected journalists to torture at the Provincial Office loacted in Hyderabad earlier this week.  Authorities also received several other complaints against incumbent officials of program.

The Health Department Sindh has decided to dismiss Provincial Program Manager Dr Zahoor Baloch and the case has been presented to the Chief Secretary of Sindh for evaluation.

Special Secretary, Public Health Sindh, Dr Khalid Sheikh confirmed the development and said directives had been issued against the Program Manager. He also added that the Manager himself wanted to leave the post. He further stated that the Monitoring Officer, Hepatitis Program, Dr Kazim Memon has been directed to take charge of Program Manager from this point on.

Sources confirmed that the Deputy Program Manager had been removed from his post after the incident, and the Program Manger will be replaced within a couple of days.