RAWALPINDI: Students staged a protest outside Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on Saturday, suspending traffic.

The protesters accused the doctors and police of allegedly ignoring their injured fellow, causing him to succumb to his injuries without receiving medical treatment.

However, the hospital administration and the police categorically denied the charges, saying that the student had already passed away before reaching the hospital.

According to the students, a scuffle broke out between two groups of students in Shakrial area. The victim suffered a bullet injury to his face, and was rushed to BBH in critical condition. The victim was identified as Raja Khurram, aged 20, a student of H-8 Commerce College.

“This is nonsense; our fellow student, who was in critical condition, died without getting any treatment. The police and doctors wasted more than 20 minutes to decide the jurisdiction of the crime scene,” Mutasham Ali, a protester, said. The area falls in the limits of Shahzad Town police station.

According to the students, the police officials stalled the admission of the victim to the emergency department on the grounds that it was not possible in the absence of a concerned official of the area police. As a result, the students alleged, Khurram passed away without getting treatment.

Speaking to Dawn, BBH medical superintendent Dr Asif Qadir Mir said: “As soon as the students brought their fellow to the emergency department, the doctors conducted his detailed check-up, and pronounced him dead. I can’t say anything whether the police wasted some of their time.”

He further said the bullet hit the student’s face and immediately exited from the rear side of his head.

“Almost 30 minutes are required to reach BBH from Shakrial. So there is a rare chance that the student was still alive,” he added.

Later, a contingent of police, led by SHO Waris Khan, rushed to the scene and held talks with the protesting students.

They filed an application with the SHO, who assured them that the police would investigate the matter and if anyone was found guilty, he would be brought to justice. After this assurance, the students dispersed peacefully.

On the other hand, the body was shifted to Polyclinic as the murder took place in the limits of Shahzad Town police station. After the autopsy, the police handed over the body to the heirs of the victim for burial.

Assistant Sub Inspector Mohammad Imran, who is investigating the case, said an FIR of the case was yet to be registered.