Daily Times

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Saturday expressed his displeasure at the state of affairs of a psychiatric hospital in Lahore as he surveyed the facility over complaints of mismanagement.

During his visit to the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), the chief justice checked various wards of the hospital, seeking replies from the health department over negligence in services. He also visited the hospital’s kitchen, where he expressed reservations over the hygiene condition.

The attendant of a patient told the chief justice that the hospital was cleaner than it usually was because of his visit. A woman present at the hospital told the chief justice that there was a shortage of medicines at the facility. Over this, an explanation was sought from Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The chief justice also surveyed pharmacy of the hospital where he sought details from the incharge.

Kh Salman Rafique briefed the top judge regarding the facilities available at the hospital. “I hear the same complaints regarding the cost of medication wherever I go,” said the chief justice. “The hospital is in the worst state possible,” he remarked, and added that the male ward’s condition was extremely poor. “Who is responsible for this? Is someone going to come from outside and fix this?” he questioned. The provincial health secretary informed the chief justice that a new building for the institute is already under construction.

After the visit, a woman doctor of the institution stopped the CJP’s car and requested his assistance in recovering her lost son. Dr Aisha claimed her son is in the custody of security forces for last three years. The chief justice gave an assurance to Dr Aisha and asked her to submit an application in the court. “I am with you, give us two days to review your case,” the top judge replied and instructed his staff to take all records of the lady doctor’s son. news desk

CJP orders arrest of two quack doctors

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday ordered the arrest of a quack doctor who operated on a woman and his accomplice at a hospital in Jhang.

The decision came during a hearing of the suo moto notice taken on the incident. A two-member bench headed by Justice Nisar heard the case at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry.

The CJP had taken suo moto notice of the incident after a video went viral showing a man wearing a vest conducting a surgery on a patient. The video also showed the man was being assisted by another who was also neither wearing scrubs nor a mask.

During the hearing, Jhang police presented the suspects in the court. Police said the suspects worked at Dr Rafiq Ahmed’s clinic who is registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. “The suspects have claimed that Dr Rafiq conducted the operation and they were only giving first-aid,” police officials told the bench.

To this, the CJP remarked, “They are lying.”

The chief justice ordered their arrest and for a case to be registered against them.

The bench also directed police to present Dr Rafiq at the next hearing of the case.

Published in Daily Times, April 29^th 2018.