Sanitary worker’s death case: Hospital registers case against deceased’s family, other workers

16 persons nominated in FIR for assault on the hospital and obstructing duty

HYDERABAD: In an apparent retaliatory move in the death case of a sanitary worker in Umerkot earlier this month, the medical superintendent (MS) of Civil Hospital, Umerkot, has registered an FIR against the sanitary workers and family members of the deceased.

The case was lodged on the order of the local court on complaint of MS Dr Jam Kumbhar, nominating 16 persons for assault on the hospital and obstructing duty. The brother of the deceased Pervaiz Maseeh, Yousuf Maseeh, Fayaz Maseeh, Jameel Maseeh and 11 others, mostly sanitary workers, are nominated in the case.

On June 1, three sanitary workers fell unconscious while cleaning a manhole in Umerkot. One of them, 30-year-old Irfan Maseeh, died in the hospital. The family and co-workers blamed the hospital's doctors for refusing to provide life-saving treatment to Maseeh because his body was covered in sludge.



Subsequently, an FIR was registered on complaint of Maseeh's father, Nazeer Ahmed Maseeh, under sections 319 and 334 of Pakistan Penal Code. Six persons, including Dr Jam, Dr Yousuf Kumbar and Dr Allahdad Ranto of the hospital and the municipal committee's staff, Behari Lal Malhi, Sarwan Malhi and Khalid Khoso, were nominated.

In his FIR, Dr Jam claimed that Maseeh was dead when he was brought to the hospital, while the other patients, who were suffering severe asphyxiation, were given treatment and were saved. The MS alleged in the FIR that between 100 to 150 people attacked the hospital when Maseeh was proclaimed dead. He estimated the loss caused to the hospital in the attack at around Rs0.5 million worth of furniture and medical equipment.

Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry ordered by Sindh health director-general has also reportedly cleared the hospital's staff. The inquiry, conducted by Dr Umer Kaka and Dr Hemraj Rathi, has reiterated the local doctors’ claim that Maseeh was dead when he was brought to the hospital.

The report highlights that the lives of other two workers were saved by providing them timely medical treatment. According to the report, the municipal committee did not provide safety gear while sending the workers to clean the manhole on a very hot summer day.

A fact finding report prepared by the human rights activists has blamed both the hospital and municipal committee for the death of the worker.