Pointing out loopholes: Trans Action rejects fact-finding committee’s report by LRH

Tarakai says high-level committee formed to consider reservations

PESHAWAR: Trans Action Alliance Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Civil Society Network (CSN) rejected the fact-finding committee’s report by Lady Reading Hospital, on transgender activist Alesha’s death, and decided to take a case against the hospital to the court.

Members of the alliance and CSN held a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday, where they expressed their reservations regarding the report, saying it was biased and defied all facts and evidences.

On the occasion, Trans Action Alliance K-P President Farzana Jan said the committee comprised members from the LRH administration, but there was not even a single member of the transgender community or guardian of Alesha inducted in the committee.

“The members of the committee have dissented with the report which clearly shows the report is [unclear],” Farzana said, adding the statements were also not recorded of those who were with Alesha when she was brought to the hospital.



She rejected the fact-finding committee’s report, saying “Although the report confirmed senior doctors never checked Alesha while she was in critical condition, it did not hold any doctor responsible.”

She added the evidence and videos provided by Trans Action Alliance was not taken into consideration by the committee.

Farzana said the report ignored the culprit and focused more on irrelevant suggestions and recommendations.

Three petitions

On the occasion, a social activist, Qamar Naseem, said they have decided to file three petitions in Alesha’s case.

First, Naseem said, the alliance will file a defamation suit, of Rs5 million, against LRH for maligning the transgender community in the hospital premises.

Secondly, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will be made part of the judicial enquiry to demand cancellation of licence of LRH for going against the laws in providing care to the patients. “Criminal negligence on part of doctors will be also be added to the petition,” Naseem said.



He told The Express Tribune LRH had breached rules by not providing medical aid to Alesha on time. Clause 3 of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Injured Persons and Emergency (Medical Aid) Act, 2014 also states any inured person should be provided treatment without any delays. Therefore, he said, they will also file a case of criminal negligence, against the LRH staff.

Seeking justice

After being shot multiple times, Alesha was taken to LRH where she later died over reported negligence of staff present there.

The members of Trans Action Alliance have said the staff harassed them and asked for their phone numbers. Some of the staff members were even reported to have asked the people who are transgender, who accompanied Alesha, how much they charge for “a single night”.

Minister for Health Shahram Khan Taraki told The Express Tribune after the rejection of fact-finding committee by Trans Action Alliance, the government has set up a high-level committee comprising professionals for the purpose to oversee the issue.

“The high-level committee will ensure justice is provided for in Alesha’s case and those [hospital staff] are dealt with if they showed negligence in providing timely treatment,” Tarakai said. He added the government has provided various allowances, include increments for the medical staff so that they deliver best services to the patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2016.