Pakistan

Police remand for MLO, nurse comes around

Arshad Baig/tufail Ahmed July 16, 2010

KARACHI: A medico-legal officer accused of raping a trainee nurse, Dr Abdul Jabbar Memon, was given in to police remand until July 20 on Friday.

The case’s investigation officer Rao Mubashir submitted to Judicial Magistrate (South) Sadruddin Bohio that Memon was being treated and his doctors said that he was unable to walk. He presented a medical report and a written statement by the doctor. The victim’s sister, neighbours and members of the Christian Community Welfare were also present in court.

Meanwhile, the trainee nurse regained consciousness after 58 hours. Neurosurgeon Dr Sattar Hashim, who had operated on her, spoke with her in the presence of her family. It will take time for her memory to return, he said. But with time, she will return to normal. No one has been allowed to meet her.

The Jinnah hospital authorities issued notice on Friday directing the evacuation of the illegally occupied flats in doctors’ colony within 24 hours. The notification also called for a background check on the rest of the occupants.

According to the hospital authorities, around nine flats have been illegally occupied, out of which six residents are doctors and three flats are inhabited by families. The police will be called to help if needed. JPMC authorities said they took this decision after Tuesday’s incident.

According to hospital officials, the provincial health ministry has also called for a complete background check on the doctors who were allotted flats in the residential colony. Some doctors and staff members have rented their flats, officials revealed.

Trainee nurses at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) will stay away from work for two more days out of “fear of harassment” but senior nurses will be on duty.

This is in reaction to the alleged rape of a trainee nurse by a medico-legal officer that has led to an uproar in the hospital. Sehar Iqbal of the Provincial Nurses Association told PPI that some of them had held talks with the hospital’s administration without consulting the nurses. The strike was in reaction to this.

School of Nursing principal Azra Hameed said the trainees would not be sent on ward duty on Saturday and Sunday. Their classes will continue though. There are 200 trainee nurses and 250 nurses are living at the hostel. There are more than 400 staff nurses at JPMC, she said, adding that patients will not face any problems in the absence of the trainees.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Danish | 14 years ago | Reply @ Sultan: but if someone is living illegally then thats not really good behavior.

Sultan Ahmed. | 14 years ago | Reply Under the Criminal Procedure Cod, an investigator can request the court for remand of an accused to have in his custody for interrogation so that he may be able to collect related some evidence which prove the crime against the person involved. During the physical custody, no third method can be employed against the accused. Interrogation can be done and created some documentary evidence,circumstantial evidence,recorded statements of eyewitnesses if available,in this way case is completed and refer to the court for trial. In case, the person is already injured no third method can be employed against him. Victim is not in position to get record her statement before the investigating officer but it is essential without it case can not be completed. what she will say? only God knows, but alleged culprit said, he is innocent,he committed no crime,a conspiracy is being hatched and he being framed, it would have to prove,lip-service is not acceptable. Trial in its completion will take remarkable time during which methods can be used to save the skin but prosecution has a duty to prove the allegation leveled against the accused by crucial manner of the eyewitnesses and victim's statement. It is a fundamental principle of justice, if any person commits a crime punishment can not be given any other person who is absolutely innocent have no hand in the crime directly or indirectly. Doctors, living in the colony were ordered by the authority concerned to vacate the quarters forthwith, it is injustice,it is examplery punishment for them,shouldn't be punished they are not liable to sentence before the court's judgement.

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