LAHORE: A 55-year-old mentally challenged man was allegedly tortured to death by the staff at Institute of Mental Health Sciences (IMHS).

Muzaffar Ali was shifted to the Services Hospital in a serious condition on May 31 and died during treatment a couple of days ago. The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) had taken notice of the incident and started an inquiry into the incident.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, a PHC spokesperson said a two-member inquiry committee has started investigating the reports that the patient succumbed to injuries resulting from torture by the hospital staff.

Headed by the deputy director (complaints), the committee has been directed to visit the institute and Services Hospital and furnish a detailed report to fix responsibility on the guilty officials/employees.

An official claimed that a resident of Nankana Sahib, Muzafar Ali was subjected to severe torture by the staff at the IMHS over an issue of soiling the bed. The staff allegedly used an iron rod to punish the patient, inflicting several bruises on various parts of his body.

The managements of both institutions initially tried to conceal facts, but photos of the wounds and bruises later unveiled the truth during treatment at Services Hospital.

Relatives of the patient later lodged a strong protest on being informed about the incident, forcing the health authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the death.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2019