Dubai: A Pakistani woman patient has allegedly been raped and poisoned by a doctor and medical staff in Karachi.
At least four medical officials, including a doctor, at a government hospital were said to have been involved in the alleged rape and murder of a woman patient who had gone to hospital to seek treatment for toothache, Geo News reported.
Patient identified as Asmat Junejo had gone to the Sindh Government Hospital for treatment of toothache. There, however, a doctor, with the help of three other officers allegedly drugged, subdued, and raped her, and then poisoned her.
Chief Minister orders inquiry
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and ordered police to take immediate action against the culprits.
Shah, who said “the death of a patient suffering from toothache is painful for me”, ordered the police to register a first information report (FIR) of the alleged rape and murder of Asmat Junejo, start an investigation, and report the progress to him.
Relatives of the victim called for justice at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club.
The victim was found dead by her mother at the Sindh Government Hospital in Korangi on April 18.
The victim’s aunt addressed the press conference called by the members of civil society together with the National Human Rights Commission-Pakistan and the Sindh Human Rights Commission.
She said that the 22-year-old woman was drugged and raped during her visit to the hospital.
According to the family of the victim, she was a bright, independent and fiercely committed young woman who also was emerging as a prominent community leader in the area.
Anis Haroon of NHRC-Pakistan said that it was the government’s responsibility to find out what really happened and to punish the culprits. “We demand an inquiry from the government. We also ask the Pakistan Medical Association to look into this matter as the doctors accused and involved in the crime take oaths to save lives, not take lives,” she said.
According to media reports, retired Justice Majida Rizvi, chairperson of the SHRC, said that she was shocked to learn that hospital staff would collude to commit such a heinous crime and then join hands again to hide that crime.
