SAHIWAL: A private clinic was ransacked at Okanwala Bangla by relatives of a woman who, along with her newborn, died there during delivery, allegedly because of negligence of a quack on Sunday night.

According to police sources, Yasin, a resident of 97/12-L village, brought his wife for delivery at Al-Rehman Clinic at Okanwala Bangla.

Yasin told the police that as there was no doctor at the clinic, the delivery was handled by two midwives and a quack, Abid, also co-owner of the clinic.

He said because of negligence of the quack, his wife and newborn baby, a girl, died during delivery.

He added that after the death of his wife and newborn, the clinic staff, including Abid, fled the scene.

Enraged by the deaths, the relatives of the deceased woman ransacked the clinic and staged a demonstration demanding arrest of the quack.

On being informed of the incident, a team of Okanwala police reached the clinic and pacified the protesters, assuring them of early arrest of the quack.

The police later arrested Abid and one of the midwives, Bushra Bibi, registering a case against them under sections 319 and 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint ofYasin.

District health authority head Dr Azhar Naqvi, said the clinic had been sealed and a report regarding the incident had also been sent to Punjab Health Commission.

Rescue 1122 staff shifted the dead bodies to Chichawatni Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for autopsy.

Dr Naqvi said initial investigations revealed the clinic was run by the quake and no doctor was involved.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2020