Bilawal asks for an impartial probe

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, facing flak over the death of an infant in Karachi because of a traffic jam reportedly caused by his security protocol, has asked the PPP provincial government to conduct an impartial inquiry to ascertain what happened.

According to local media reports 10-month Bisma died at the doorstep of the Civil Hospital in Karachi on Wednesday as she did not receive medical treatment in time because of a security cordon for the PPP leader.

Television channels showed a young man from Lyari neighbourhood in Karachi running in frenzy to the hospital while holding the infant in his arms, as the PPP chairman was inaugurating a trauma centre.

When the father, identified as Faisal, managed to reach the hosital he was informed by doctors that Bisma, suffering from measles complications, was no longer alive and that she could have been saved had she arrived a few minutes earlier. Politicians from various parties including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lashed out at what they called VIP protocol culture that they said often created serious problems for commuters.

While PPP acitivists defended the security arrangements for their leader, citing lurking dangers in the prevalent law and order situation, Bilawal took “strong notice” of media reorts on the death of Bisma.

“Anguished over Bisma’s death. Am personally inquiring into this heart-breaking incident to ascertain what went wrong,” he the PPP chairman tweeted.

In a statement later he ordered the Sindh government to conduct an ‘impartial inquiry’.

“A transparent inquiry should be conducted into the reported death and complete findings should be made public. Anyone found responsible must be taken to task,” Bilawal siad.

In a separate statement, the PPP chairman also ordered that all events relating to hospitals be held at the Chief Minister’s House to avoid such tragedies.

“My Bisma died after policemen refused us entry to [the hospital’s] emergency ward for over an hour,” the bereaved father told media representatives.

Accoridng to reports, doctors said Bisma could have been saved if she was brought to the hospital 10 minutes earlier.

Senior provincial minister Nisar Khuhro reortedly said that Mr Bilawal was dear to the party and there were genuine security concerns.

Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar commented that “life and death are in the hand of God.”

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah expressed sorrow over the death of Bisma and said he had directed the police to conduct a thorough inquiry into the episode.

Talking to reporters along with Bisma’s father Faisal in Lyari, he said the death of the girl was a tragedy and should not be “blown up”.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said Thursday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his party is in power, would introduce a ban on stopping traffic for VIP protocol.

Addresing a political rally at Lodhran in Punjab province Khan condemned the death of Bisma in Karachi.

“Traffic should not be stopped for any VIP protocol, even if it is the prime minister. We will start change from Khyber Pakthtukhwa.