LAHORE - Stopping Centre for Applied Molecular Biology DC general from work, the Lahore High Court on Monday appointed a commission to investigate the matter of alleged hindrance by authorities concerned to the production of interferon injection and illegal appointment of DG.
The interferon injection is being used for treatment of hepatitis-C patients. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the LHC was hearing the case. The judge asked the commission to submit report before the court within 10 days.
Earlier, a senior official of Punjab University told the court that CAMB was the federal government institute which was established at the PU land. He told the court that the university administration had written to the government to shift it at some other place.
However, Dr Riazudin, the creator of Interforon, said that that he had prepared 1 lac injections of Hepatitis C which were to be available in the market at Rs 70 but some people of the PU, federal government and importer of the injections created hurdles in bringing this injection into the market.
He also said that it is first time in country’s history that the cheapest injection was invented for Hepatitis C but some people did not want it. He said presently the injection was available at Rs 4500 in the market. e in the market for Rs 4500.
Prof Zahid Mahmood had filed the petition pleading that Prof Dr Riazuddin Sheikh had introduced an inexpensive injection of interferon during his posting as head of the Centre of Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB) in the Punjab University. But unfortunately,a mafia of multinational pharmaceutical companies and the Ministry of Information Technology had put hurdles in the sale of the cheap injection in the market, he said.
Dr Usman Zafar in another petition challenged appointment of Dr Iqbal as DG of CAMB saying that the authorities had removed him (Dr Zafar) as head of CAMB and replaced him by Dr Iqbal against the law and to ruin the institution.  The court will resume hearing on June 23.