LAYYAH: Two more people have succumbed to poisonous sweetmeats at the Jinnah Hospital Lahore, pushing the death toll up to 31.

The latest casualties include a 15-year old boy, Mujahid Hussain, son of Maqbool Hussain, a resident of 272 TDA village, who was shifted for treatment to the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, where he died on Friday night and Muhammad Ashraf (20), who expired at the same facility on Sunday.

On Friday, during his visit to Chak 105 ML, where the tragic incident had occurred, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader and former Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar offered condolence to the relatives of the victims.

Talking to the media, he said the deaths had exposed the “good governance” of the Punjab government.

He said instead of spending Rs200 billion on Orange Line train project in Lahore, the government should provide better health facilities to the citizens of Punjab.

MPA Shahab-ud-Din Khan of the PPP, who is also deputy parliamentary opposition leader, strongly condemned the health policies of Punjab government.

He said if a forensic lab had been established in Multan, the analysis reports of the poisonous sweetmeats would have been promptly available to the doctors and many lives could have been saved.

The Qul Khawani for the 12 members of Omer Hayat's family who fell victim to toxic sweets was held at Chak 105 ML.

Parliamentarians from the area, officers of district administration and a large number of people from all segments of society were present.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...