'Influential' people allegedly set dogs on young boy in Haripur

Father says his son was provided no treatment at local hospital

HARIPUR: Some influential people allegedly set dogs on a young boy in Haripur, leaving the boy severely injured. The local hospital, however, initially sent the boy and his family back home allegedly without administering any treatment.

Nine-year-old Muhammad Jamal was returning home from school in the Siri Kot area of Haripur (the native village of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah) when some influentials allegedly set their pet dogs on the boy.

The dogs brutally mauled the boy and left him severely injured. He was shifted to the Haripur Hospital where usually expired medicines and anti-dog bite injections are kept. He was thus sent home without any treatment.

The boy’s father Muhammad Siddiqui — a driver in the area — confirmed that his boy had not been provided with any medication at the hospital and that they had to dress his wounds themselves. They then took the young boy to Abbottabad for treatment.

But after reports of the incident made it to the media, the Haripur hospital’s administration contacted Siddiqui and offered to treat the boy.

Siddiqui further said that he had not filed a written complaint about the dog attack on his son with any authority.

Haripur police officers, while confirming the incident, said that no one has filed a report in the matter thus far. They added that they do not have the powers to act on the case unilaterally.

Local residents said that there were some people who breed attack dogs for hunting who can attack humans. They urged security officials to take note of the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2018.