Nurses protest assault cover-up
Student nurses protest in front of Punjab Assembly against a doctor’s alleged attempt to rape one their colleague.
LAHORE:
Student nurses from Mayo Hospital School of Nursing protested in front of the Punjab Assembly on Thursday against a doctor’s alleged attempt to rape one of their colleagues.
The nurses shouted slogans against the administration for covering up the incident. They also called for the registration of an FIR against the accused House Officer (HO) M Asad Iqbal.
Nurses said, first year student, Aalia* went to the retiring room to have her meal at 1 am on Wednesday. They said that Asad asked the ward maid to leave, switched off the lights and entered the retiring room where he tried to sexually assault Aalia. The nurse resisted and shouted for help, as a result of which Asad fled.
The nurses claimed that they had brought the incident to the notice of hospital authorities, including the additional medical superintendent and the nursing superintendent, but no legal proceedings had been initiated against the accused. “They ‘advised’ Aalia to continue her work covering her face. Why should she cover her face when she has not done anything shameful? The culprit is roaming free,” exclaimed one of the angry protesters.
The nurses demanded that the chief minister order an inquiry. Mayo Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS), Dr Zahid Pervaiz, told The Express Tribune that the accused had been terminated from service on Wednesday.
“A three-member inquiry committee headed by Prof Sabrina Pal has been formed,” he added. “Further action will have to wait until we get the inquiry report, which will take two days,” he said. The MS said, “Aalia, in her written statement to the hospital, said that Asad had grabbed her by the arm and pushed her. If he attempted rape, we will lodge an FIR against him.”
Asad while talking to the Tribune maintained that he was innocent. “When I entered the room, she was talking with somebody. I asked who she was talking to and she started shouting,” he said.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the woman
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2010.
Student nurses from Mayo Hospital School of Nursing protested in front of the Punjab Assembly on Thursday against a doctor’s alleged attempt to rape one of their colleagues.
The nurses shouted slogans against the administration for covering up the incident. They also called for the registration of an FIR against the accused House Officer (HO) M Asad Iqbal.
Nurses said, first year student, Aalia* went to the retiring room to have her meal at 1 am on Wednesday. They said that Asad asked the ward maid to leave, switched off the lights and entered the retiring room where he tried to sexually assault Aalia. The nurse resisted and shouted for help, as a result of which Asad fled.
The nurses claimed that they had brought the incident to the notice of hospital authorities, including the additional medical superintendent and the nursing superintendent, but no legal proceedings had been initiated against the accused. “They ‘advised’ Aalia to continue her work covering her face. Why should she cover her face when she has not done anything shameful? The culprit is roaming free,” exclaimed one of the angry protesters.
The nurses demanded that the chief minister order an inquiry. Mayo Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS), Dr Zahid Pervaiz, told The Express Tribune that the accused had been terminated from service on Wednesday.
“A three-member inquiry committee headed by Prof Sabrina Pal has been formed,” he added. “Further action will have to wait until we get the inquiry report, which will take two days,” he said. The MS said, “Aalia, in her written statement to the hospital, said that Asad had grabbed her by the arm and pushed her. If he attempted rape, we will lodge an FIR against him.”
Asad while talking to the Tribune maintained that he was innocent. “When I entered the room, she was talking with somebody. I asked who she was talking to and she started shouting,” he said.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the woman
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2010.