Islamabad: A doctor at Islamabad’s main public sector hospital has reportedly been suspended for uploading on social media a video showing the chief of Jamiat Ulema Islam-F (JUI), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, undergoing a medical check-up at the facility.

Rehman was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) hospital on April 28 for stomach-related issues and discharged the same evening after a number of tests had been conducted.

The next day, a 15-second video was uploaded on social media, in which a doctor was seen examining the leader.

Upon receiving complaints from the family and followers of Rehman, Pims management suspended the doctor who uploaded the video and apologised to Rehman.

Pims Vice-Chancellor, Dr Javed Akram, told media it was unethical and unprofessional to obtain photographs of any patient, or release them to anyone without the patient’s permission.

He said a three-member committee has been formed to look into the matter. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.

The management of Pims has tendered unconditional apology to the JUI leader, his family and followers.

One of the reasons for the mixed reaction the video garnered on social media is because on it, Rehman is seen being tended to by a female doctor.

The religious leader who has remained vocal against women empowerment was criticised by his opponents for getting medical treatment by a female doctor, a report in Dawn said.

Akram had said earlier that Rehman’s son contacted him and lodged a complaint saying a doctor had recorded his father being examined and the same person probably uploaded the video.

“We also received a number of calls in which followers of the religious leader asked why privacy wasn’t ensured during the check up,” Akram was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The hospital’s staff was also warned that it was unethical and unprofessional to obtain photographs of any patient, or release them to anyone without the patient’s permission.

The incident is the second scandal to rock Pims in about three weeks. On April 9, a 20-year-old patient was allegedly raped by a hospital employee, who has since been arrested.

— With PTI inputs