An Islamabad judicial magistrate has allowed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to hold three suspects on seven days of physical remand in a case over alleged irregularities in a multi-billion-rupee vaccine contract. The suspects were brought before Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi on Tuesday.
The three men are Dr Abid Hussain Shah, director of Border Health Services-Pakistan (BHS-P); Pardeep Kumar, a former BHS-P director; and Dr Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah, medical officer and FP IHR at BHS-P. The FIA arrested them in Karachi over alleged irregularities in vaccine procurement for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
FIA operation followed the Prime Minister’s inquiry
The FIA acted after a direct notice and an inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. It then carried out an operation spanning Karachi and Islamabad to take the officials into custody and register a formal case against them.
According to FIA documents, the case, registered as FIR 61/2026, concerns a five-year contract for meningococcal (ACWY) and influenza vaccines. The contract went to a single bidder, M/s Pharma Connect. Investigators allege it was awarded without a market survey or comparative price assessment.
Alleged Rs2.445 billion price gap under scrutiny
The procurement rate was set at Rs3,475 per complete vaccination. The FIA documents put the combined maximum retail price notified by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) at Rs2,660. The agency estimates the difference could lead to projected excess spending of about Rs2.445 billion from the national exchequer over the contract period.
The agency further alleged that Pardeep Kumar replaced a previously notified procurement committee, took over as its chairman and approved bidding documents that lacked essential criteria. It also alleged that Dr Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah facilitated the selection of the contractor, while Dr Abid Hussain Shah later submitted a note seeking ex-post facto ratification of the procurement proceedings, the FIA said.
Court limits remand to seven days
The prosecution had sought 14 days of physical remand. It argued that custody was needed to recover original procurement records, probe possible collusion and identify others who may have helped the alleged irregularities. The court granted seven days and ordered the FIA to produce the suspects again on October 28, 2026.
