May 15, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

SIALKOT, May 14: A Pasrur THQ hospital surgeon was manhandled by the heirs of a farmer who died allegedly because of his negligence on Wednesday.

Reports said a farmer, Khushi Muhammad (58), of Aaki Maachhi village was brought seriously injured to the hospital after he fell on a wheat harvester. At the hospital, no doctor was available to attend the injured farmer except surgeon Dr Aslam Mazhar Iqbal, who was having lunch with some other doctors.

The relatives of the injured said they repeatedly sent massages to the surgeon through paramedical staff, requesting him to attend the patient whose condition was worsening. However, they said, the doctor remained busy having lunch. Resultantly, Khushi Muhammad succumbed to his injuries after remaining unattended at the hospital for about two hours, they said.

Following his death, his relatives stormed the operation theater where the doctors were having lunch and dragged out surgeon Aslam, humiliated him and gave him a good thrashing for his negligent behaviour.

Later the relatives placed the body outside the ward and staged a demonstration in protest against the incident. They chanted slogans against the hospital management, demanding registration of a murder case against the accused doctor.

The hospital management confirmed the incident.

A few days back a Punjab Assembly member, Rana Tariq Mahmood, had died owing to the non-availability of doctors at the emergency wards of three state-run hospitals in the district.

DCO Atta Muhammad Khan said a departmental probe has been ordered into the matter.

Meanwhile, Punjab Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Tanvir Islam told newsmen by phone that the surgeon had been suspended from service. He said the provincial health secretary had also ordered a probe into the incident, asking EDO (health) Dr Arshad Iqbal Dar to furnish a report within 24 hours.

About three months ago, a mob had ransacked the emergency ward of the Pasrur THQ hospital following non-availability of a doctor to conduct an autopsy.