Missing recognition: Hospital named after Qazi opens without JI presence

Dr Samia Qazi hits out at PTI for not giving family due credit

KARACHI: The daughter of the 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.

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.”

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.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2017.