LAHORE, July 29: The Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital medical superintendent was suspended from service after a probe conducted by the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell found him guilty of molesting a nurse in his office.

According to a handout issued on Sunday, the nurse `S’ of the same hospital lodged a complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi stating that Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Afzal had got her salary for March 2007 withheld. The complainant said when she went to the MS office in order to lodge a complaint in this regard, Dr Afzal tried to molest her. While resisting the assault, her clothes got torn off, but she, somehow, managed to escape from the MS office.

The nurse further stated in her complaint that even after the incident Dr Afzal continued to tease her which compelled her to get herself transferred to the Government Said Mitha Hospital. She stated that she was being threatened by the accused, who, she alleged, was also refusing to issue her service book.

On receiving the complaint, the chief minister ordered his Special Monitoring Cell to conduct an immediate probe into the matter, seeking a report within two weeks.

Monitoring Cell in charge Haji Muhammad Nawaz Malik conducted a secret probe into the matter which confirmed all the allegations levelled against the doctor, the handout said. It was also learnt that Dr Afzal had previously been suspended and transferred from the post of Kasur EDO (Health) for indulging in immoral activities. 

The Monitoring Cell recommended a stern action against the doctor in the light of findings of the probe. On chief minister’s directions, the Punjab health secretary suspended the doctor from service.