Samia Qazi lambasts PTI for not inviting JI to inauguration of hospital named after father

Late JI chief's daughter says PTI 'stole the credit' for an institution envisioned by her father

KARACHI: The daughter of late Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Dr Samia Raheel Qazi criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's leadership for not giving the former due credit during the inauguration of a medical complex in Nowshehra.

"I strongly protest PTI's move to not invite any member of JI for the inauguration of the medical complex," Samia told The Express Tribune over the phone on Sunday.

Earlier today, PTI chairman Imran Khan inaugurated Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex in Nowshehra and paid tribute to the late JI chief. Oddly, no senior JI member could be seen attending the inaugural event.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan addressing a ceremony to inaugurate Qazi Hussain Medical Complex in Nowshehra on March 12, 2017. EXPRESS NEWS SCREEN GRAB

My father played a vital role in building the medical complex, envisioning the facility and getting land allocated for it in 2002, Samia said. "It was sad to see that we did not receive any sort of invitation to attend the event."

Samia said that she also played a role in establishing the institute as a member of the National Assembly during the same year.



She said that it was understood between the two parties that the medical facility would be inaugurated as a result of the efforts of the late Qazi Hussain. "However, I was not invited to the event, nor do I have any information about any leader of the party who may have been invited."

Samia, who is also the only female member of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), went on to add "it seemed that the PTI did not want to give the JI their credit in building the facility."

In addition, the prominent JI leader claimed that PTI leader and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had also made efforts to rename the complex after himself.

"The complex was always supposed to be named Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex," Samia said. She also had a kind word for the Awami National Party (ANP), which she "appreciated for never attempting to change the name of the complex".

The PTI, she continued, has resorted to appointing their near and dear ones and favoured their handpicked people as employees at the medical facility.

On December 22, 2016, Khattak approved the renaming of the district headquarters teaching hospital in honour of the late JI chief.