MITHI: An FIR has been registered against eight suspects, including the medical superintendent (MS) and two doctors of the Civil Hospital Mithi, in connection with the alleged suicide of hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Abdul Karim Sheikh while an inquiry committee has begun recording statements of the bereaved family.

According to officials, a probe committee constituted by the deputy inspector general (DIG) of Mirpurkhas and headed by SSP Syed Fida Hussain Shah reached Mithi and recorded statements of the deceased doctor’s family members, who had arrived from Karachi, as well as his colleague Dr Mujeeb Chandio at the SSP office.

However, sources said the accused doctors and lower staff members did not appear before the inquiry committee despite being summoned. Subsequently, the heirs of Dr Sheikh approached the Mithi police station where an FIR was lodged on the complaint of his son, Sadiq Sheikh, under Section 316 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR nominates male nurse Manthar Bheel as the prime suspect along with Civil Hospital Mithi MS Dr Harish Kumar Jagani, Dr Mohan Khatri, Dr Abdul Malik Nohrio, Sindh health department Section Officer Shafiq Ujjan and other staff members, including Sardar Bheel, Barkat Hingorjo and Rajab Kunbhar.

In the complaint, Sadiq Sheikh alleged that his father had been subjected to mental harassment and pressure by the hospital administration, which ultimately forced him to take the extreme step.

He also claimed that Dr Sheikh had filed complaints with the health department and other relevant authorities, including the health secretary, regarding the alleged harassment. He also stated that there was recorded evidence of abusive language used against his father, but no action had been taken despite an inquiry.

The complainant alleged that the MS had misbehaved with his father, while the male nurse had used inappropriate language on the pretext of duty-related issues. He added that the other nominated individuals had acted in collusion, subjecting his father to continuous mental distress.

Separately, speaking to journalists, a relative of the deceased, Abdul Malik Sheikh, expressed gratitude to people across Sindh and Thar for their support.

He said the family nominated the same individuals whom Dr Sheikh had named before his death. “We have confidence in the inquiry committees and the police and hope that justice will be served,” he said, adding that they expected continued public support until the case reached its logical conclusion.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2026