August 21, 2024
By Rehan Piracha and Mateen Ali
LAHORE
Doctors at Lahore’s Sir Gangaram Hospital on Wednesday, August 21, continued their protest for the second consecutive day over the attempted rape of a five-year-old girl on the hospital premises. The protesters have been demanding greater security for women in the hospital especially the female staff, and are calling for a transparent investigation of the incident.
The report of the attempted rape on hospital premises by a janitorial staff member came as a shock to the doctors.
The doctors, mostly members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA), besieged the office of the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Sir Gangaram Hospital, Dr Hafiz Moinuddin, and chanted slogans for his removal. Female doctors demanded increased security following the rape attempt two days ago in the newly-built emergency building of the hospital.
“Our doctors were already wearing black wrist bands to express solidarity with the Indian doctor and called for more security for the female staff here,” Dr Asghar Ali, Chairman of the YDA’s Sir Gangaram Hospital chapter, told Voicepk.net. The rape attempt has sent ripples of fear and insecurity among the female staff, he added.
According to the doctors of the hospital, the administration has been trying to hide the facts regarding the attempted rape of the girl.
“The rape survivor and her mother have suddenly disappeared from the scene,” said Dr Ali.
The YDA claims that the MS and other officials are obstructing a transparent investigation into the case, adding that the doctors would continue their protest until the survivor gets justice.
Dr Shoaib Niazi, President of YDA Punjab, said the hospital administration was trying to cover negligence in security, as the incident unfolded on the newly constructed seventh floor of the building where no cameras had been installed as yet. Furthermore, the security and janitorial staff are being outsourced. Besides the administration has time and again tried to absolve itself of any responsibility, he said.
Speaking with Voicepk.net, Dr Niazi revealed that it was not the first time such incidents have occurred on hospital premises.
“There have been about 17 incidents of harassment reported by female doctors but the hospital administration had not taken strict action on these complaints,” he said. The administration had simply transferred staff accused of harassment out of the hospital, he added.
On the other hand, MS Dr Moinuddin stated that the police have registered the first information report (FIR) of the attempted rape incident and that the suspect is in police custody and undergoing investigation.
“The doctors are continuing with their protests for vested interests,” he claimed in a video statement, adding that the suspect had already been sacked from his job.
Rape or attempted rape?
Meanwhile the protesting doctors claimed that the exact circumstances of the incident were not clear. They claimed that they had been informed by some witnesses that the child was raped and that some had spotted blood at the scene of the offense as well.
Reportedly, the hospital administration claimed the child was sleeping with her mother in a corridor when a janitor tried to molest her. The girl’s screams woke up her mother who then shouted for help. People nabbed the accused and handed him over to the hospital administration. The hospital security staff called the police and the suspect was arrested.
In a video shared on social media, accused Abid Masih can be heard saying that he had been taken over by the “devil” making him inappropriately touch the girl.
According to the FIR registered at the Civil Lines police station, the suspect has been charged under Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 509ii (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code.