A significant case involving the illegal supply of spurious medical products has surfaced, registered under FIR No.01/2025 dated 03.01.2025. The case is filed under Sections 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 23/27 of the Drugs Act, 1976, highlighting violations related to the distribution of counterfeit medical supplies. The case is led by Gul Zaib Khan, Inspector of Drugs, Islamabad.
Accused Parties
The individuals implicated in the case include:
- Asif Javed: Managing Director of M/s Global Trading Enterprises, Islamabad.
- Mudassar Hayat Khan: Associated with M/s Pakistan Surgical.
- Salman Shahid: Affiliated with M/s Cotton Croft.
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Background of the Case
The investigation was initiated following an Istighasa from the Health Department, ICT Islamabad, which highlighted the supply of spurious products to the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital (FGPC), Islamabad. The products in question, Orthoplast (Batch Nos. 03E24), were allegedly manufactured by M/s Cotton Craft (Pvt) Ltd and supplied by M/s Global Trading Enterprises.
Investigative Findings
- Initial Inspection and Seizure:
– On 04.09.2024, Inspector Gul Zaib Khan, accompanied by Drug Inspector Mansoor Latif, conducted an inspection at FGPC’s warehouse. A stock of Orthoplast (Batch Nos. 03E24) was seized for further investigation.
– Documentation, including delivery challans from M/s Global Trading Enterprises, was also confiscated.
- Manufacturer’s Verification:
– M/s Cotton Craft (Pvt) Ltd confirmed that they did not manufacture the seized batch and denied authorizing M/s Global Trading Enterprises as a distributor.
– Consequently, the product was sent to the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL), Rawalpindi, which declared it spurious.
- Failure to Provide Documentation:
– M/s Global Trading Enterprises failed to submit necessary documentation, including the drug sale license, purchase evidence, and warranty, reinforcing suspicions of illegal activity.
Statements and Financial Transactions
– Asif Javed provided evidence of payments totaling PKR 1,425,000 to M/s Pakistan Surgical Distributors. However, the receipts lacked batch number details, raising further doubts.
– Muhammad Shafique, a representative from M/s Humza Enterprises, corroborated that POP (Plaster of Paris) was purchased from M/s Pakistan Surgical and transported to Islamabad.
– Mudassar Hayat Khan presented purchase receipts and payment documentation. However, the lack of batch numbers on receipts and inconsistencies in transaction dates added to the case’s complexity.
Chronological Summary of Events
- Purchase Orders by Global Trading: 09.05.2024 & 22.05.2024.
- Purchase of POP by Humza Enterprises from Pakistan Surgical: 11.06.2024.
- Payments by Global Trading: 11.06.2024 & 12.06.2024.
- Dispatch of POP to Global Trading: 12.06.2024.
- Delivery to Polyclinic Hospital: 08.07.2024.
 Conclusions from Investigation
– M/s Global Trading Enterprises emerged as a bonafide purchaser.
– M/s Pakistan Surgical fraudulently sold spurious stock while omitting batch numbers in transaction documents.
– M/s Cotton Croft denied manufacturing the spurious batch, although discrepancies in their sales records were noted.
Legal Proceedings
– The next pre-arrest bail hearing for the accused is scheduled for 20.03.2025 at the Chairman Drug Court Islamabad.
– The final challan will be submitted after retrieving complete records from the Polyclinic Hospital.
This case underscores the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight in the pharmaceutical supply chain. It also emphasizes the importance of detailed documentation and rigorous verification processes to prevent the circulation of counterfeit medical products.
The investigation into the illegal supply of spurious Orthoplast highlights significant gaps in regulatory compliance and supply chain management. The case continues to unfold, with legal actions pending against the accused parties. The outcome will set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future, reinforcing the importance of ethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry.
