BAHAWALNAGAR: A trainee dispenser was booked on Wednesday after a video clip was uploaded on social media showing his pictures with a dead body during an autopsy at the morgue of the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital.

According to the first information report (FIR) registered with A-Division police station on the complaint of Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Malik Muhammad Yunis Rasheed, on April 22, an autopsy of deceased Umar Farooq alias Umri was conducted at the DHQ hospital.

During the procedure, trainee dispenser Muhammad Saad Ahmad got himself photographed with the dead body, the MS said, seeking legal action against his subordinate.

Acting on the complaint, the police booked Saad and the unidentified person who took his pictures with the dead body under section 297 of the PPC and started investigation.

Desecration was committed during autopsy

As per health department sources, the video clip was uploaded on social media on Tuesday night, following which the locals, including the family of the deceased man, protested and demanded action against the suspects.

Though the MS refused to comment on the incident, health department high-ups took notice and a three-member inquiry committee was constituted to probe into the matter on the order of Bahawalnagar deputy commissioner (DC).

Health CEO Dr Saleem Akbar Laghari on Wednesday told newsmen the inquiry committee would issue its report within 24 hours, saying Saad would be arrested soon for desecration of the body.

A hospital official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn the pictures were taken by a colleague of Saad some two months back and the DHQ administration was aware of the incident, but tried to hush it up.

PENALISED: AnAnti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) court, Bahawalpur, on Wednesday handed down 10-year punishment to a registry moharar (RM) of Bahawalnagar sub-registrar office for taking a bribe of Rs10,000 from a man four years ago.

According to revenue sources, ACE special judge Ziaul Haq Gujjar also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on convict Nadeem Sheikh, who received Rs10,000 from a citizen Ata for registration of land in 2018 during his posting at Bahawalnagar sub-registrar office. The complainant [Ata] died some four months ago, they said.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2022