The Anti-Corruption Department raided the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the Polio Eradication Programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and arrested UNICEF Health Specialist Dr. Tufail on charges of dual employment, officials confirmed on Friday.
According to the department, investigators received reports that Dr. Tufail, associated with UNICEF’s Polio Programme, was also working as a Trainee Medical Officer in the Department of Community Medicine at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. He had allegedly been drawing financial benefits from both positions since January 2023.
Following an inquiry, anti-corruption officials collected sufficient evidence and launched a raid led by Circle Officer Humayun Khan at the EOC located in the former FATA Secretariat. Dr. Tufail was arrested and moved to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Sources revealed that the dual employment case had been known for some time, but the officer reportedly evaded legal action due to backing from senior officials in the Polio Eradication Programme and UNICEF.
Concerns have been raised that despite repeated complaints, authorities within the Polio Programme failed to take disciplinary action, casting doubts on the programme’s transparency.
Officials added that the Anti-Corruption Department has also launched a probe into the alleged involvement of higher officials who may have facilitated or ignored the irregularity.