On Punjab minister’s insistence, Hanif Abbasi’s daughter transferred to BBH

Federal, Punjab health ministers take note of incident as recording goes viral

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid along with Federal Health Minister Amir Kiani have taken notice of an incident where a provincial minister from the ruling party allegedly called and threatened the medical superintendent of a Rawalpindi hospital to remove the daughter of a rival party leader.

Dr Aria Abbasi, the daughter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) incarcerated leader Hanif Abbasi, worked at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in Rawalpindi.

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat had previously directed BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Tariq Niazi to transfer Dr Abbasi. The MS, though, had ignored the orders.

This angered Basharat who called Dr Niazi. In a telephonic conversation which went viral on Sunday, the law minister threatened the medical superintendent for disobeying his order.

In the recording, the minister can be heard speaking loudly to MS Dr Niazi, saying that the lady doctor must be sent to the skin department or he should get ready for dire consequences. The MS could also be heard apologizing to the minister in the recording.

The move was also condemned by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Rawalpindi who termed the move political interference into the hospital’s affairs.

An emergency meeting of the YDA staffers of all allied hospitals in Rawalpindi was also convened at the BBH on Monday.

During the meeting, the YDA condemned the attitude adopted by the provincial minister with a senior medical officer.

They demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar take note of Punjab Law Minister Basharat’s actions and ask him to apologise to the BBH medical superintendent and tender his resignation.

They also urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the incident and order a probe, similar to the one it had ordered in the summary dismissal of the Islamabad Police chief a few months ago.

If their demands are not accepted within 72 hours, the young doctors resolved to tie black armbands and stage protests in the allied hospitals.

Meanwhile, the PML-N leader’s family termed this a blatant example of political victimisation.



Dr Rashid orders probe

Taking note of the threatening phone call, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid directed the relevant authorities to probe the matter and present a report.

Later, Federal Health Minister Amir Kiani said that probe will be conducted on merit.



PML-N to protest

Meanwhile, PML-N workers and activists have decided to agitate in the city over the alleged political victimization of Abbasi’s daughter.

PML-N leader Sajid Khan condemned the MS’ actions against Dr Abbasi and said that while the PML-N leader has been sent to jail by the court, now his family is being harassed using various tactics.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2018.