ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights and K-Electric (KE) have agreed over several benefits, including financial assistance, which will be extended to eight-year-old Muhammad Umar who had both his arms amputated after a high-tension wire fell on him in Karachi.

However Muhammad Arif, the father of the boy, seemed indecisive over the offer. He thought that the child should be sent to the United Kingdom to implant bionic arms.

The committee was chaired by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) KE Moonis Alvi, who could not attend the meeting on Monday, also participated in the session.

The boy was critically injured on Aug 24, when a high-tension wire fell on his left arm. The boy used his other hand to try and remove the wire, but the high voltage quickly gripped his body and caused severe burns on both the arms.

After a detailed discussion, it was decided that KE would provide Rs1 million in cash, a monthly stipend of Rs25,000, which would increase at an annual rate of five per cent, and bear all his medical treatment expenses within the country.

Umar’s father wants his son be sent to the United Kingdom for bionic arms implants

It was also decided that the power utility would bear education expenses of the boy. Besides, KE also promised him employment after he completes his studies.

Mr Alvi said that because of technical reasons, KE could not pay for his medical treatment in another country but all kinds of medical treatment facilities available in the country at present or in future would be provided to him.

He said the Sindh government had already promised to bear medical expenses for his treatment from abroad. “Sindh government has taken the responsibility of medical treatment, even from abroad, so Mr Arif can get the treatment for his child from any country,” he said.

However, Mr Arif insisted that it should be mentioned in the agreement that the KE would bear the expenses of treatment if the government hesitated as he was of the opinion that sometimes funds were not released by the government despite such announcements.

He also said that the expenses of education equal to the fee of Institue of Business Administration should be provided to him and that it should be his decision what institute he picked for his son’s education.

However, KE representatives were of the opinion that they would only transfer the fee to the educational institution rather than handing over it to the father. They also said that there was a possibility that the boy might not get admission in IBA. In that case, they said, the fee could not be handed over to his father. However, they added, KE would pay the fee if the boy would study at any other institution.

Senator Khokhar said that there could be no substitute of the lost hands/arms but the offer extended to the boy and his father seemed reasonable. The senator was of the opinion that Mr Arif should accept the offer or otherwise he had the option to file a petition in a court.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Arif said he was indecisive over the issue.He said he would discuss it with his mother, wife and other family members before making a final decision. He added that he wanted to secure his son’s future.

Earlier, KE CEO had apologised for failing to attend the committee meeting on Monday and said he had to appear before the Sindh High Court.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018