A district court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seven-day physical remand of three suspects arrested in a vaccine procurement case that allegedly cost the national exchequer Rs2.445 billion.
The suspects, Basic Health Services Program (BHSP) Director Mohammad Abid Hussain Shah, Pardeep Kumar and Dr. Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, were produced before Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi at the District and Sessions Court. The FIA had sought 14 days of remand.
According to the agency, the suspects are accused of serious financial irregularities in a five-year contract for the supply of meningococcal and influenza vaccines.
The FIA alleges the contract was awarded to Medicines Pharma Connect, the only bidder, without a market survey or comparative evaluation of bids, in order to benefit a preferred company.
The agency estimates that the contract imposed an additional burden of Rs2.445 billion on the national exchequer. The suspects are also accused of embezzlement.
The FIA told the court that remand was necessary to recover the original procurement record and official correspondence, and to identify other facilitators in the case.
After hearing the arguments, the court approved seven days of physical remand. The suspects will be produced before the court again when the remand period ends.