Sindh

Medical report rules out ‘wrong injection’ to be the cause of Asmat’s death

The DNA report to ascertain the alleged sexual assault is yet to be issued

Tufail Ahmed May 12, 2019

PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: The cause of 26-year-old Asmat Khanejo's death couldn't be determined even after weeks of her death. The medical examination report released on Friday ruled out the 'wrong injection' to be the cause of death while the DNA report to ascertain the alleged sexual assault is yet to be issued.

Asmat, a resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, had gone to the Sindh Government Hospital Korangi complaining of toothache. The doctor prescribed her an injection, but she died immediately after it was administered to her. Her family claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the hospital staff before being killed.

Authorities directed to speed up lab reports in Nashwa, Asmat cases

Asmat's post-mortem was done on the same day of her death at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) by lady medico-legal officer (MLO) Dr Zakia Khursheed. The samples of blood and other organs acquired during post-mortem were sent to Sindh Chemical Examiner for chemical analysis, Dow Lab for histopathology and drug testing laboratory.

None of the test results and chemical analyses has yet proved the alleged sexual assault on Asmat. The report prepared by Dr Khursheed, in the light of the results of all three laboratories, also didn't show any such evidence.

However, the DNA test report hasn't been received by Dr Khursheed or any other relevant authorities yet. It is being said that the sexual assault on Asmat would be confirmed if all DNA reports are positive. The DNA samples have been sent to the DNA lab of University of Karachi.

Another girl falls prey to 'wrong injection'

The report prepared by Dr Khursheed mentioned that evidence of the injection administered to Asmat at the hospital are found in the blood samples taken from her body but the injection wasn't issued by the hospital, it was brought from somewhere outside the hospital. Therefore, the cause of Asmat's death couldn't be mentioned clearly in the report.

The medical experts say that it is imperative to find out the person who brought the injection and the dispensary from where it was bought.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2019.