Workplace discrimination : Private hospital officials accused of assault
Two sanitation workers allege manhandling during theft complaint inquiry.
LAHORE:
The Ichhra police on Thursday registered a complaint against the Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH) assistant managing director (AMD) and its security in charge on complaint filed by two Christian women sanitary workers who alleged that they had been assaulted by the these officials.
The complaint was registered after dozens of FMH sanitary workers, human rights activists and member of the Masiha Millat Party (MMP) held a protest demonstration in front of the hospital in Shadman.
The hospital administration has also initiated a departmental inquiry against the accused and suspended the AMD from service.
SHO Zulfiqar Ali of Ichhra police station told The Express Tribune that the complainants Nusrat Bibi and Muneeza Bibi said that they were called by AMD Abid Rasheed and security in charge Major (retired) Tahawwur to their office on April 17 for questioning in a SR11,000 theft case at the hospital a few weeks ago. They said that the two men tried to effect a body search, which they resisted. They said that disregarding their objections, the two officers started searching them. They said their clothes were torn in a struggle. They alleged that the two officials also took away their purses containing Rs3,500 which were never returned. They said they were being pressed to admit to a theft that they had not committed only because they were Christians.
Several members of the Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan and Masiha Millat Party held a protest demonstration in front of the hospital on Thursday. The protesters marched towards the Lahore Press Club chanting slogans against the accused and the police.
Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra, the Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan president, who was leading the protest, accused the police of favouring the accused by not registering the FIR despite an application filed two days ago. He said that the complainants had bruises on their bodies and medical examination also indicated they had been assaulted. He said that the women were scrutinised only because they were Christian.
The police finally registered an FIR under Sections 337-F (1), 354, and 379 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the accused. The protesters demanded that the hospital administration immediately terminate the accused officials.
Sahotra further said that the minimum wage set by the government was Rs7,000, but the hospital paid the workers Rs5,000. He said that the sanitary workers were made to work in 12-hour shifts, which was a violation of human rights and labour laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.
The Ichhra police on Thursday registered a complaint against the Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH) assistant managing director (AMD) and its security in charge on complaint filed by two Christian women sanitary workers who alleged that they had been assaulted by the these officials.
The complaint was registered after dozens of FMH sanitary workers, human rights activists and member of the Masiha Millat Party (MMP) held a protest demonstration in front of the hospital in Shadman.
The hospital administration has also initiated a departmental inquiry against the accused and suspended the AMD from service.
SHO Zulfiqar Ali of Ichhra police station told The Express Tribune that the complainants Nusrat Bibi and Muneeza Bibi said that they were called by AMD Abid Rasheed and security in charge Major (retired) Tahawwur to their office on April 17 for questioning in a SR11,000 theft case at the hospital a few weeks ago. They said that the two men tried to effect a body search, which they resisted. They said that disregarding their objections, the two officers started searching them. They said their clothes were torn in a struggle. They alleged that the two officials also took away their purses containing Rs3,500 which were never returned. They said they were being pressed to admit to a theft that they had not committed only because they were Christians.
Several members of the Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan and Masiha Millat Party held a protest demonstration in front of the hospital on Thursday. The protesters marched towards the Lahore Press Club chanting slogans against the accused and the police.
Aslam Pervaiz Sahotra, the Human Liberation Commission of Pakistan president, who was leading the protest, accused the police of favouring the accused by not registering the FIR despite an application filed two days ago. He said that the complainants had bruises on their bodies and medical examination also indicated they had been assaulted. He said that the women were scrutinised only because they were Christian.
The police finally registered an FIR under Sections 337-F (1), 354, and 379 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the accused. The protesters demanded that the hospital administration immediately terminate the accused officials.
Sahotra further said that the minimum wage set by the government was Rs7,000, but the hospital paid the workers Rs5,000. He said that the sanitary workers were made to work in 12-hour shifts, which was a violation of human rights and labour laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.