SIALKOT, May 13: The provincial health secretary has suspended from service three doctors who were absent from their duties at separate facilities when MPA Rana Tariq Mahmood injured in an accident near Daska was taken there in a row a few days ago. Owing to a lack of prompt medication and treatment, the MPA later died in a private hospital and Chief Minister Dost Muhammad Khosa ordered the Sialkot district coordination officer (DCO) to investigate the matter and report him back.

DCO Capt Atta Muhammad Khan (retired) conducted a probe and found that Dr. Arif Mahmood Sheikh of Government Sardar Begum Hospital, Dr. Ejaz Chatta, a duty surgeon of Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, and Dr. Arif Sheikh, a duty officer of Trauma Centre in the vicinity of Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, were absent from their places of duty when the injured MPA was taken there in a row.

According to the DCO’s report, Rana Tariq was first taken to Government Sardar Begum Hospital where duty medical officer, Dr. Arif Mahmood Sheikh, and his subordinate staff were absent. The seriously injured MPA was later taken to the Emergency of Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, where duty surgeon, Dr. Ejaz Chatta, was absent and finally he was taken to newly-established Trauma Centre where duty officer, Dr Arif Sheikh, was also absent. This shifting caused inordinate delay in the treatment of the injured and he later succumbed to his wound in a private hospital, the report added.

EDUCATION: A United Kingdom institution has offered providing B.Tech National Certificate in fashion and textile to Pakistani students at Leather Products Development Institute (LPDI), Sialkot, in collaboration with local business community.