Gone too soon: Court asked to order case against the death of unborn child

Fauzia was four months pregnant and lost her baby after being hit by a Pajero vehicle belonging to Sohail Sayal.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court issued a notice to the Chandka Medical College and high-ups of Larkana police on Wednesday over the alleged denial of medical assistance to a woman and refusal to register the case of her unborn child’s death against an influential person, Sohail Sayal.

Fauzia had gone to the court against the provincial home secretary, inspector general of police, Larkana police’s deputy inspector general, senior superintendent, Airport police station’s house officer, Chandka Medical College administrative head and medical legal officer and Sohail Sayal.

She told the judges that she was returning home after attending a relative’s wedding ceremony in Larkana on December 15, 2012, when she was hit by a black Pajero, which according to her was being driven rashly.

“Fauzia was four months pregnant and the baby was lost after being hit by the vehicle belonging to Sohail Sayal,” claimed her husband Khadim Hussain Shahani.

He alleged that when his wife visited the Chandka Medical College for treatment and issuance of medico-legal examination certificate, a health officer, Zulfiqar Ali, who knew Sayal, refused to give Fauzia medical assistance. Similarly, the Airport police refused to register a case of the unborn baby’s death against Sayal, said Shahani.

The petitioners asked the court to order provision of medical assistance for Fauzia in Karachi, saying that she was under threat in Larkana, and to order the police to register a case of the baby’s death against Sayal. Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai, who headed the bench, issued notice to Larkana police’s DIG, SSP, Airport police SHO, Chandka Medical College administrative head, its MLO and Sohail Sayal for August 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2013.