Residents protest alleged rape, murder of Asmat Khanrejo

Family claims she was sexually assaulted, then killed by hospital staff

KARACHI: A complete shutter-down was observed in Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri Goth and other adjoining areas to protest the alleged rape and murder of a 26-year-old female patient in the Sindh Government Hospital Korangi.

Asmat Khanrejo, a resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, had gone to the public health facility, complaining of toothache, last week. But she died after being administrated a suspicious injection.

Her family claimed she was sexually assaulted by the hospital staff before being killed.

On Tuesday, residents of Ibrahim Hyderi and civil society organisations took to the streets in protest and demanded strict action against the suspects involved in the case.

Family alleges woman was raped, killed by hospital staff

The shops and markets in the area were closed while the traffic remained thin.

"Government should probe the incident and exemplary punishment should be given to those found guilty in the incident," said Mohammad Ali Shah, Chairperson of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, who was one of the activists leading the protest.

The protesters remembered Asmat as a bright young woman, who was an emerging community leader and was also supporting her family financially.

Doctor denies 4-year-old was killed due to wrong injection

One of the women activists, Qurrat Mirza, condemned the incident and said, "You cannot imagine the situation her family has been facing. The woman had gone to the hospital only because she had a toothache but the family received her body."

Asmat was drugged, and heinously raped, the activist alleged and added, "Her post-mortem has also proved that it is not a case of medical negligence but murder. Her post-mortem has also shown evidence of rape."

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2019.