LAHORE, Sept 5: The Chief Minister’s Inspection Team has found that Rashid Ahmad, a patient of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), had died because of torture by a ward boy and lack of professional skills in the management of the patient by the doctor on duty.

The CMIT has submitted its inquiry report and recommendations to Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi for strict legal action against the officials responsible for the death of the patient.

Punjab CMIT Minister Col Shuja Khanzada (retired) said here on Monday the chief minister had taken serious notice of a news item regarding the death of a patient at the PIMH and directed it to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. Senior CMIT member Taj Muhammad Khattak held the inquiry and submitted a report.

According to the inquiry report, Rashid Ahmad was admitted to the PIMH on July 20.

“The patient showed an aggressive, abusive behaviour towards the inmates of the ward and the hospital staff tried to overpower him. In the resultant situation, it was a free-for-all fight in which Rashid was subjected to excessive force and physical beating by Abid Husain and other patients. Consequently, his ribs on both sides were fractured and his face and neck had some bruises,” the report said.

“The staff nurse was immediately called, who administered SOS injection and failed to examine the physical injuries of the patient. The duty doctors, Dr Bilqees, Dr Sadaqat Baloch, Dr Hameed, Dr Sajjad Ahmad and Dr Asad Naseer, treated him as a routine patient and made no efforts for a clinical diagnosis of his condition. When the patient reached the Services Hospital, his condition had deteriorated to a degree that efforts made by the hospital proved futile.”

The inquiry officer recommended that ward boy Abid Husain should immediately be proceeded under the Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance, 2002, and dismissed from service.

He said the departmental inquiry proceedings should also be initiated against showing lack of professional skill in the management of the patient by APWMO Dr Bilquees Begum, APMO/registrar E Unit Dr Sadaqat Baloch, medical officer E Ward Dr Zulfiqar Rizvi, medical officer E-II Dr Sajjad Husain, medical officer of male ward Dr Asad Naseer and staff nurse Haneefa.