By: Zulfiqar Ali (Kashmir Investigation Team)
MUZAFFARABAD: The Ehtesab Bureau investigation into the ambulance purchases has raised concerns that the vehicles will become inoperable even before they are put into use, causing a loss of at least Rs 400 million to the national exchequer.
The Azad Kashmir government stated an inquiry into the matter before recovering these ambulances and distributing them to hospitals, making them unuseful for the citizens.
In 2023, the Azad Kashmir government paid more than Rs 380 million to Azad Motors for 24 ambulances of the 2023 model, but the ambulances that the Azad Kashmir Health Department received were of the 2022 model, resulting in a loss of more than Rs 140 million to the government.
These ambulances have been parked in the warehouse of the Azad Kashmir Health Department in Islamabad since July 2023.
Shuja Gilani, an investigation officer of the Azad Kashmir Ehtesab Bureau [Accountability Bureau], revealed that they have seized 24 ambulances parked in the warehouse of the Health Department for investigation.
Gilani told Kashmir Digital that he is legally authorized to take such steps during the investigation.
When asked whether these ambulances have been seized for technical inspection, he replied that there is no need for inspection, as all the relevant documents are with him.
Answering a question, the investigation office added that the government can get these ambulances released through the court if it wants. but the government has not yet approached the Bureau to get these ambulances released.
The investigation officer said that their job is to complete the investigation, and they cannot take any action.
Ehtesab Bureau Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Hanif Chaudhry said that the court proceedings will begin only after the investigation is completed.
Interestingly, in August 2023, Azad Motors had offered the Health Department that they were ready to replace the 2022 model ambulances with 2023 model ambulances, which were inspected in November- December.
After that, the Health Department wrote a letter to the government at that time asking them to allow them to obtain 2023 model ambulances from Azad Motors instead of the 2022 model. But instead of responding to this letter, the government sent the case to the Accountability Bureau in August 2024.
This shows that the Azad Kashmir government is not interested in these ambulances being useful to the people.
It should be noted that the Azad Kashmir government had sent a reference to the Accountability Bureau against Azad Motors in August 2024. But the name of any officer was not included in this reference.
The Chief Prosecutor of the Ehtesab Bureau said that after the investigation is completed, the role of the officers will be seen in the prosecution stage. But, he added, this will happen only when the chairman of the Accountability Bureau is appointed.
Political analysts said that there is currently no possibility of appointing a new chairman of the Accountability Bureau, the reason for which is that a new chairman cannot be appointed until the instructions of the Supreme Court are implemented.
In January this year, the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir directed the government to amend the laws related to the appointment of the chairman so that a neutral, political, and influence-free procedure can be devised.
The court had recommended that the appointment of the chairman should be made in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The court had also suggested that the eligibility criteria for the candidate should not only include academic qualifications but also integrity, professional competence and a sound understanding of the law.
Three months have passed since the Supreme Court issued its directions, but there has been no progress on this yet, and there is no immediate prospect of it, senior government official said.
If the government delays in releasing these ambulances from the Ehtesab Bureau and these ambulances remain in the custody of the Ehtesab Bureau until a new chairman is appointed, there is a fear that they will not be usable, and there is a risk of a loss of Rs 400 million.
It should be noted that these ambulances were purchased from the annual grant given by the federal government for infrastructure development. It was learned that the Azad Kashmir government has not only misused this grant but also neglected important sectors like public needs, especially health.
Analysts added that health is a fundamental right of the people, and when ambulances purchased with grants do not reach the people and become inoperable, it is not just a waste of resources but a direct attack on human lives.
They said that the failure of the government to hold anyone accountable, even after 20 months has passed, is a failure.
