2 doctors cleared of aiding ‘terrorist’

LAHORE; A local court in Sadiqabad has dismissed a high-profile case against two doctors from a private hospital, who were accused of providing medical treatment to an alleged militant commander.

Civil Judge (First Class) Javed Iqbal ruled that the prosecution failed to produce any credible evidence to support the police’s claims, leading to the immediate acquittal of both the accused.

Dr Rao Nadeem Akhtar, the hospital’s owner, and Dr Usman Faisal, a surgeon, were taken into custody earlier this week following the registration of FIR No 3542/25 at City Police Station Sadiqabad. According to the complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Zahid Abbas, the police, while on routine patrol near Chungi No 10, received information that an injured individual named Farooq, allegedly a militant commander from Balochistan, was under treatment at the private hospital.

Upon arrival, the police questioned Dr Nadeem who reportedly stated that he had no knowledge of the patient’s background and that there was no hospital record under that name. The police alleged that both doctors treated the man despite knowing his alleged links and accused them, along with other hospital staff, of obstructing law enforcement.

After reviewing the case file, Judge Javed Iqbal concluded that there was no proof of terrorism or criminal involvement by the doctors. The court noted that CCTV footage and hospital records did not corroborate the prosecution’s allegations of concealment or complicity. “No credible evidence exists against the accused,” the judge wrote in his order.