By Naveed Satti
ISLAMABAD: The Department of General Surgery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has sought an inquiry into suspected fake house job testimonials after receiving credible information that some certificates may have shown house jobs which were allegedly not performed.
In a letter addressed to the Executive Director of PIMS, dated September 10, 2025, the department described the matter as serious, saying it could affect the credibility of both the department and the institution.
According to the letter, some testimonials appeared to carry suspicious or possibly forged signatures and official stamps of Dr Sajid Ali Shah, Dr Fahad, Prof S.H. Waqar and other officials.
The department requested the immediate cancellation of any testimonials found to be fake and called for a complete review of all testimonials issued by the General Surgery Department to identify any other certificates that may be false or unauthorised.
It also recommended verification of every signature appearing on the certificates so that the authenticity of the documents could be confirmed.
Another major proposal was the appointment of an official focal person in the General Surgery Department. The focal person would be responsible for checking house officer joining records and issuing all certificates and testimonials through one official and centralised system.
The department said these steps were necessary to protect the professional reputation of PIMS and prevent misuse of official certificates in future.
The available documents also include a specific testimonial issued in the name of Dr Adam Khan, son of Khursheed Ahmad. A PIMS Islamabad Hospital certificate states that he worked as a House Officer in the Department of General Surgery from January 2, 2024, to April 2, 2024.
The testimonial describes Dr Adam Khan as efficient, hardworking, willing to learn and active in the ward, Emergency and Accident Centre and operation theatre. It says he assisted in many surgical procedures and performed several minor procedures under supervision.
The certificate further states that he was on good terms with nursing staff and colleagues and describes him as having good moral character, intelligence, discipline and a strong interest in learning. It also recommends him for General Surgery training and describes him as a talented and disciplined house officer with a strong interest in medicine.
A separate PIMS communication dated December 17, 2025, shows that the testimonial of Dr Adam Khan was sent for verification. The Assistant Registrar requested that the contents of the certificate be checked to determine whether it was genuine, preferably within two days.
The verification request was made in connection with the House Job Rotation record and was signed by Assistant Registrar Muhammad Sohaib Tahir. The document was also endorsed by Prof Aatif Inam Shami, Professor of Surgery and Head of Surgical Unit II.
The records show that questions about the authenticity of house job certificates were not limited to a general complaint. At least one specific testimonial was sent for official verification after concerns were raised about its contents.
The documents also show that PIMS has formal systems for departmental work and academic activities. An office order dated April 13, 2023, established a Purchase Committee for PIMS, with Prof Mumtaz Khan Niazi, Professor of General Surgery, as its chairman.
The committee included Dr Mashhood Ali, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Dr Zakir Jan, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Dr Muhammad Hussain, Assistant Professor of Paeds Medicine, Mrs Sidra Saleem, Pharmacist, a representative of the Director Finance and the Chief Nursing Superintendent or representative.
The Purchase Committee was assigned the responsibility of helping ensure efficient and transparent procurement under PPRA rules. Its work included preparation and publication of tender documents, opening of bids, checking whether bids met published requirements and examining tender cases through nominated technical members.
Another document from the General Surgery Department records the 25th meeting of the Ethical Research Review Committee of PIMS, held on May 4, 2026, under the chairmanship of Prof Mumtaz Ahmad Khan Niazi, Professor of General Surgery and Chairman of the committee.
Dr Saman Waqar, Dr Jawad Faisal, Dr Sidra Zahoor and Mr Maqbool Khattak also attended the meeting. The record says 56 participants were considered for approval of their research topics, research work and synopses, while 11 participants were absent.
Five participants were advised to revise their research topics, while 40 topics were approved after clarification. The meeting was closed with best wishes for the participants and the future of the institute.
Taken together, the documents show a department handling house officer records, academic work, procurement responsibilities and research activities, while also facing questions over the authenticity of some house job testimonials.
The General Surgery Department has proposed a central system for verifying joining records and issuing certificates so that every house officer’s training period can be checked before a testimonial is issued.
Such a system would also make it easier for hospitals, universities and training institutions to confirm whether a certificate was officially issued and whether the details on it matched departmental records.
The documents do not establish that every testimonial issued by the department is false. They show that concerns were raised, a specific certificate was sent for verification and the department requested a wider review of its testimonial records.
