ISLAMABAD: The special assistant to the prime minister on health visited the rape victim and her family at Pims on Tuesday, besides meeting the family of a six-year-old girl whose arm was amputated.

Dr Zafar Mirza told both families that Prime Minister Imran Khan would be briefed on the cases and they would get justice. He also said both families would be provided health cards.

While speaking to the rape victim’s family, Dr Mirza assured them the culprits would be given exemplary punishment. He also directed police high-ups present at the hospital to investigate the case and take the aggrieved family into confidence.

The six-year-old whose arm was amputated fell off the room, breaking two bones in her arm. Doctors at Pims applied and removed a cast twice but one of the broken bones could not be aligned and the blood supply to her arm had also stopped.

They finally decided that her arm would have to be amputated, leading to protests by the child’s family and as well as a complaint lodged against the doctors.

The family told Dr Mirza that the child’s arm had to be amputated because of negligence by hospital staff.

Dr Mirza expressed sympathy with the family and gifted the child flowers and chocolate. He said an inquiry has been ordered and whoever is found responsible will be dealt with strictly.

“As soon as I learnt of the matter, I contacted the Pims executive director and asked him to immediately constitute an inquiry committee to probe the matter. I suggest the committee should include members other than Pims doctors,” he said.

Pims Executive Director Dr Raja Amjad Mehmood told Dawn Dr Mirza assured both families that he would brief the prime minister on the issue. He said the child whose arm was amputated is out of danger, while the other child is in critical condition.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2019