ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Akram has termed as baseless allegations that his hospital was hiding 17 bodies of protesters who died during clashes with police on Constitution Avenue on August 30 and 31.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr Akram said such allegations would shatter citizens’ confidence in the hospital. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, on Tuesday claimed that as many as 17 bodies of sit-in participants were lying in Pims but the hospital’s administration was hiding them.

On September 14, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief, Tahirul Qadri, alleged that doctors at Pims were not retrieving bullets from the bodies of injured party workers. In support of his allegations, he produced some workers who had bullets lodged in their bodies.

Dr Javed Akram, without disclosing the name of any politician, said they (politicians) should either present proof in support of their allegations or avoid making irresponsible statements.

Hospital’s vice-chancellor asks politicians to present proof of their allegations

“More than 7,000 patients from far-flung areas like Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab visit Pims daily. If they lose confidence in the hospital, they will start turning to quacks,” he said.

“How can we keep 17 bodies for two weeks when our mortuary has space for only six bodies,” he said.

“In the presence of vibrant media it is impossible to hide bodies for so many days. Had we concealed them, the families of the deceased would have come on media,” he added.

Dr Akram said as per his information only three people died during clashes with one of them drowning.

“Naveed Razzaq, 24, died after falling into a ditch which was full of water while Rafiullah, 24, and Gulfam Aadil, 30, suffered bullet wounds,” he said.

“As many as 465 injured were brought to Pims. Out of them 325 were men, 29 women, five children and 111 police officials,” he said.

Replying to allegations that bullets had not been removed from the bodies of the injured, Dr Akram said 12 people were shot with live bullets but these were retrieved from the bodies of only two persons. “In 28 per cent cases removing bullets can damage organs,” he said.

Neurosurgeon Dr Khaleequz Zaman said a bullet is left in the body if the injured feels no pain. Removing a bullet can damage a person, especially, if it is lodged in the skull.

“A bullet does not carry any poison so it does not create any problem for the patient. If it starts causing infection, we remove it,” he said.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr Imran Sikandar said after hitting the bone some times a bullet shatters into pieces. So it is preferred to leave the bullet inside because the wound deteriorates if a doctor tries to remove it.

“A rubber bullet does not damage the bone,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014