May 09, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, May 8: The relatives of two dead children observed token hunger strike outside the Civil Hospital here on Thursday, alleging surgeon’s reluctance to attend to the seriously injured children.

According to reports, three children five-year old Nasreen, six-year old Chhuttal, and eight-year old Junaid were seriously injured when the wall of house fell on them because of the storm in Nagar Chandio village.

Abdul Qayoom Chandio, father of the children and other relatives brought the injured to Naushahro Feroze Civil Hospital where Nasreen died on Wednesday late night while her brother Chhuttal on Thursday. The third was still in the hospital.

Chandio said the three injured children were brought to the hospital at 7.45pm and despite efforts surgeon did not attend the patients as a result Nasreen died at about 11pm and Chhuttal at about 8am, the other day.

Chandio and other protesters demanded action against the Medical Superintendent and Surgeon Shahzad Wagan and Zameer Abbasi.

The EDO Ahmed Bux Bhutto visited the hunger strike camp where he told reporters that a committee headed by him was being constituted and after thorough inquiry, the responsible doctors will be punished.Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Memon said his duty was till 9pm and the injured were not brought to the hospital by that time. He said Dr Karam Ali Laghari was on duty who informed the injured were brought after 9pm and Dr Zamir Abbasi whose duty was in Orthopaedic Ward was not there and Nasreen died at 11pm.

He further said relatives took the injured to the Medical Centre of Surgeon Dr Paryal Tagar who advised them to take injured to the NMC Hospital Nawabshah but they were brought to Naushahro Feroze Civil Hospital.

Surgeon Shahzad Wagan and Dr Zamir Abbasi were not available for comments.