Abandoned bodies on Nishtar Hospital rooftop: Staff found guilty awarded minor punishments on basis of inquiry

LAHORE: After an inquiry conducted into the issue of abandoned bodies on the rooftop of Nishtar Hospital Multan in October 2022, the staff found guilty has been let off with minor punishments.

Based on the inquiry report, the secretary Specialized Health issued a notification that awarded minor penalties to a doctor and three watchmen.

Dr Maryam Ashraf, chairperson Anatomy Department, was sentenced to 20 per cent pension cut for allegedly not making proper arrangements for the abandoned bodies.

In the inquiry, Dr Abdul Wahab and Dr Seerat Abbas were acquitted of the charges due to lack of evidence.

Apart from this, three watchmen -- Ghulam Abbas, Mohammad Sajjad and Abdul Rauf -- were sentenced to suspension of two years of increments.

While several abandoned bodies were buried in the cemetery with the help of Edhi, the inquiry report said only four bodies were found on the rooftop of the hospital. In October 2022, news of several abandoned bodies being found on the roof of Nishtar Hospital was published by newspapers, following which the then chief minister had ordered an inquiry.