PESHAWAR, Oct 21, 2026 – A major corruption and nepotism scandal has surfaced at the historic Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar, allegedly under Dr. Nausherwan Burki’s management by hiring a non-doctor as Hospital Director.
According to documents, for the first time in the hospital’s 100-year history, a politically motivated appointment was made to the most important post of Hospital Director, violating all merit rules.
Sources reveal that Muhammad Tariq, who is considered extremely close to Dr. Nausherwan Burki, was awarded the top position due to personal connections. This alleged nepotism has cost the provincial exchequer crores of rupees. The matter came to light when Advisor for Information Samar Haroon Bilour visited the hospital to inquire about children injured in a school incident and discovered that the Hospital Director himself was not even a doctor.
An official audit report has raised serious objections to the appointment. According to the report, Muhammad Tariq was appointed as Associate Hospital Director on January 16, 2017, through the Selection and Promotion Committee.
His fixed salary was Rs 508,892 per month, and during 43 months till August 2019, a total amount of Rs 21,882,356 (Rs 2.18 crore) was paid to him. The audit pointed out that for this post, a Master’s degree in Hospital or Health Services Management, Business Management, Public Health or Public Administration and at least 7 years of administrative experience were mandatory.
However, the officer concerned had done his MBA in 2010 and, according to the audit, his post-degree experience at the time of application and appointment was less than the required 7 years.
The report also highlighted multiple contradictions in educational documents and experience certificates. In his CV and certificates, the duration of employment at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Sahara organization was shown differently, with an apparent contradiction in the employment period.
One experience certificate from Sahara was issued on December 16, 2008, while the employment period mentioned in it was stated till January 20, 2009. The audit declared that, in light of available records, the selection process appeared suspicious and non-transparent, and eligible candidates were deprived by appointing a person without the required post-degree experience.
The audit had recommended a high-level inquiry into the matter, investigation by NAB, Anti-Corruption Department and Government Inspection Team, and recovery of the amount as per rules. Despite this, the previous PTI government, instead of recovering the amount, handed over the leadership of the entire hospital to him as a reward.
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