KARACHI: A long-fought battle of the parents of police firing victim Amal Umer seems to be meeting the desired results for better healthcare and emergency services in the city as the two on Wednesday expressed satisfaction on the fresh findings of a Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) probe into the alleged negligence of a private hospital and other aspects in the case.

Amal died after she was hit by a bullet fired by a policeman in Defence area on Aug 13, 2018 during an alleged shootout with suspected street criminals.

“The Sindh Healthcare Commission shared their findings in a report on Wednesday,” the parents of Amal said in a statement. “We find the report comprehensive which covers in detail the malpractice and denial of treatment by the hospital. The report indicates that maximum penalties under the SHCC Act 2014 should be given to the National Medical Centre and the board of commissioners of the SHCC has pledged to recommend compensation on top of the penalty according to the findings as suggested by the Supreme Court.”

The parents of the girl expressed their hope that the SHCC would hold everyone duly accountable and make the report public while recommending the highest possible punishment, along with the penalty, so that no hospital or doctor ever remained comfortable or complacent to deny treatment to another person, and feared the repercussions envisaged by law and the ongoing proceedings.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019