'Assaulted' RIC medic appeals for justice

A staff nurse at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), who alleges she was subjected to violence and mistreatment, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the Inspector General of Punjab Police for justice.

RIC staff nurse Sitara Saleem issued a video statement in which she appealed for justice, alleging that she was subjected to violence and mistreatment the previous day. Sitara said she had been wronged and urged the authorities to provide her with justice. She alleged that she was now also being threatened at the hostel.

"I am also a daughter of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz," she said in her appeal to the provincial high ups.

According to the staff nurse, the hospital administration had attempted to suppress the case instead of supporting her. She alleged that the application submitted to the police had been drafted by the Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) and Additional Medical Superintendent (AMS), and that despite her objections, the application did not accurately reflect the details of the incident.

The staff nurse alleged that when she was attacked, hospital security personnel watched the incident without intervening or coming to her assistance.

Sitara further alleged that the hospital administration confined her and other members of the staff to a room for five hours and took away her mobile phone.

She said she was repeatedly called before the Executive Director (ED) and Medical Superintendent (MS) to record statements, while the hospital administration continued attempting to suppress the matter.

According to the nurse, she was pressured to remain silent and not pursue the case further. Sitara alleged that efforts were being made to suppress the case and that the police had initially also supported those who had allegedly mistreated her.