Body of missing boy found in Swabi

Family initiates protest after hospital fails to conduct autopsy.

SWABI: The slaughtered body of a 12-year-old boy was found in Tordher, Swabi on Thursday night.

The deceased’s family informed Tordher police that 12-year-old Talha Mehmood went out to play on the evening of July 13. However, he did not return home. The family registered a case against the incident.

Subsequently, the police carried out a search operation and found the body dumped in a graveyard on Jehangira Road. A knife was discovered next to the body. The police believe the knife was used to commit the murder.

From pillar to post

A few hours later, on Friday morning, the family took the remains to Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) Shah Mansoor, Swabi for a post-mortem.

However, Dr Sultan Muhammad, the relevant doctor, was not on duty and the relatives were referred to Mardan Medical Complex Teaching Hospital.



When they arrived at the facility, they called the medical superintendent of BKMC over the telephone. The medical superintendent said it was the duty of doctors at his medical facility to conduct the post-mortem.

Last resort

The family was fed up of being sent from pillar to post and reached BKMC where they placed the body outside the hospital and started a protest.

They urged the government to terminate the services of Dr Sultan. The family, local government representatives and other residents closed the Swabi-Jehangira road for two hours and shouted slogans against the practitioner.

Later, DHO Dr Niaz Muhammad reached the spot and negotiated with the family. He also issued orders to suspend the doctor. A report was issued to the health minister and secretary to probe the matter.

Finally, the autopsy was conducted. Demonstrators also demanded the arrest of the murderers.

Meanwhile, Swabi DPO Javed Iqbal vowed to take the assailants to task. While speaking to media, he said the body had decomposed so they could not determine the cause and manner of death, A report was sent to a medical college.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.