SAHIWAL: Following a strong protest by local civil society and a religious political party, Deputy Commissioner Dr Farha Masood has formed a three-member inquiry committee over the alleged kidnapping of a newborn from the Government Haji Qayyum Hospital by an unidentified woman on Saturday night.

The DC told Dawn the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) will head the inquiry committee to look into the alleged negligence of hospital staff.

Regional Police Officer Mahboob Rasheed has also formed a committee under DSP Circle Iftikhar Ahmed and ordered child recovery in 48 hours.

Report said Zubair’s wife, a resident of Sahiwal city, gave birth to a boy last night at at the hospital. The newborn was on the mother’s bed. Around 2am, an unidentified woman visited the ward and asked admitted women about their newborns.

The question is how the woman got access to the ward and stayed there for four hours. The Assistant Medical Superintendent reportedly did not report the matter to the police. It was upon family and JUI-F workers’ protest at 15 Chowk in the morning that the police got alerted.

VILLAGER: A dacoity suspect died in police custody at Shah Kot Police Station last night.

The family blamed deceased Muhammad Tariq, resident of village 26/14-L, was picked and tortured by police investigators on suspicion. After receiving dead body from a private hospital, family held a protest at Iqbalnager Bypass.

DPO Fasil Shahzad took notice of the custodial death and ordered an inquiry.

PTI: Rizwan Muzzafar Shah, PTI youth wing president in the district, was picked by police on Saturday night.

It is said on the direction of the Punjab Government, police raided PTI workers’ houses to arrest them.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2023