11criminals responsible for the loss of more than 200 lives:Rana Sana

Lahore: Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that due to continuous efforts of Punjab government and effectively pursuing the PIC scandal in the courts, the criminals involved have been brought before the law. He said that eleven criminals responsible for the loss of more than 200 precious lives are still absconders and team of Punjab police is present in Karachi to arrest them.

He expressed these views during a press conference along with Minster for Law Rana Sanaullah regarding PIC medicines scandal. Secretary Health Punjab Arif Nadeem and Secretary Home Shahid Khan were also present on the occasion. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that on the revelation of PIC tragic incident, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif sent the samples of medicines abroad and also directed Health Department to work round the clock to know the facts of tragic incident and constituted inquiry committees. He said that immediate analysis from aboard has revealed about the substandard medicines of Afroze Chemicals, having mixture of malaria medicine and the senior professors’ team saved hundreds of lives by giving Antidote doze. He said that through factory managers, the owners had known that malaria medicines had been mixed in cardiac medicines but despite knowing this, the owners supplied the medicines to the PIC which reflects their anti-humanitarian act. Kh. Salman Rafique said that the government contacted superior courts and attached the properties of criminals and got them declared as proclaimed offenders that is why these criminals are appearing before the court. He said that demand of justice would be fulfilled and those responsible for this tragic incident would be brought to justice at any cost.

On this occasion, Rana Sanaullah said that the two arrested accused have not been nabbed from outside the court but were taken into custody while they were going to the airport. Moreover, the accused have not been able to prove their stance before the court. He said that eleven out of thirteen accused are still absconder and strenuous efforts are being made for their arrest. He said that no criminal will escape law and they would be brought to justice. Rana Sanaullah further said that due to personal interest of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and efforts of the provincial government, the criminals have been brought to justice. Replying to a question, he said that progress has been made in the Tyno syrup case and the demands of justice would be fulfilled against the persons involved in this case. Secretary Health informed that provincial government has contacted the federal government for the cancellation of the licenses of all the three pharmaceutical companies and Drug Regulatory Authority has also been informed in writing in this writing. He said that raw material of Tyno syrup was imported from India which was substandard and federal government had been informed in this regard. Furthermore, on the request of Punjab government, WHO has issued international alert regarding Levometharphen, he added.

Replying to a question, Secretary Health said that action is also being taken against the doctors of the Institute involved in PIC medicine case under PEEDA Act. Moreover, pharma-co-vigilant centers have been set up in the teaching hospitals and at district level for checking such incidents in future. He said that besides provision of procurement training to the staff of health department, various drug testing laboratories have also been set up in the province and international standard state of the art drug testing laboratory is in the final stages of completion at Sunder Industrial Estate.