DC Khanewal apologises to sanitary worker thrashed on his orders

Jahanian's Christian community ends its protests following the apology

KHANEWAL: The deputy commissioner (DC) Khanewal, who recently had a sanitary worker beaten up by his security guard in Jahanian for not cleaning a hospital's floor properly, apologised to the latter on Tuesday following protests by the area's Christian community.

Muzaffar Khan Seyal had ordered his security guard to thrash and humiliate Shakeel Masih,24, at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Jahanian, during a visit to inspect the cleanliness there on May 6.

Shakeel was punched and hit with a baton.



The incident triggered protests by the hospital's staff and members of the Christian community against the DC's actions.

Seyal paid another visit to the hospital on Tuesday, this time to apologise for the ill-treatment of Shakeel. The sanitary worker  accepted the DC's apology.

Parliamentarian Marry Gill, Human Rights Group member Khalid Shahzad and Bishop Leo Pal were also present on the occasion.

Pal said he appreciated Seyal's humble gesture.



"By apologising, the DC Khanewal has proved that he treats all communities equally without any discrimination based on cast, religion or colour," he added.

Shakeel said the DC had clarified that his actions were not meant to insult any particular group and driven only by anger after seeing the lack of cleanliness at the hospital.