BAHAWALNAGAR: After multiple lists of about 235 people injured in an attack on Ashura procession submitted for compensation were rejected by the Bahawalpur commissioner, the DC office has sought explanation from the health chief executive officer (CEO) and the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital medical superintendent (MS), declaring them responsible for giving wrong information and issuing a warning of action against them under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Peeda) Act, Dawn has learnt.

The grenade attack on the Ashura procession in Bahawalnagar, where more than 300 men, women and children were present near the Jamia Masjid, Muhajir Colony, had occurred on Aug 19. It had killed two persons and injured around 76.

Sources in the health department and DC office while sharing the lists of the injured with Dawn said that out of 76 injured admitted to the DHQ Hospital, 50 had suffered serious injuries. The injured could be verified from phone numbers as well as through CCTV cameras of the hospital. They said two days after the incident, the district administration issued a fake list of the injured by reducing the number to 26. The administration then announced compensation for those who were eligible. The sources further claimed that a fake list was made allegedly at the Health CEO office; however, the DHQ MS refused to sign it and it contained fake signatures of the MS.

The second list was signed by former DHQ MS Waheed Afsar Bajwa, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment, was released a few weeks before and was awaiting posting by the health authority. The third list, the sources claimed, was signed by Senior Medical Officer Dr Jameel Shah.

The DC Office on Sept 16 issued a letter to the Health CEO and DHQ Hospital MS, a copy available with Dawn, said that the health officials had sent a list of 26 injured after the blast while in the evening, a certified list of 34 more names was sent.

It said that on Aug 23, the CEO Office sent another list of 58 injured to the DC Office.

The letter added when the commissioner observed discrepancy in the above-mentioned lists, another list of 67 individuals was received from the health CEO on Sept 9. Afterwards, another list (on Sept 13) of 50 injured was sent to the DC office, it added.

The letter said the health officials were advised to send the medical certificates of the injured signed by the medical board but the instruction was ignored. It added that the officials showed negligence, relied on junior staff and provided misleading reports to the DC, which were presented to higher authorities, causing embarrassment for him.

The letter termed the health officials irresponsible and incompetent and demanded disciplinary action against them under the PEEDA Act, 2006.

In his response, DHQ MS Dr Usman wrote to the DC that his office had furnished a single report for compensation to 50 injured, which was sent to the DC office on Sept 13. He said the report was based on hospital records as well as two sessions of standing medical board conducted on Aug 30 and Sept 10. He said he had not signed any other report or letter sent by the health CEO to higher authorities.

Health CEO Dr Asfandyar said the reports were compiled at the DHQ hospital and he only forwarded them. On the question of fake signatures of the MS, he said signature of another official in place of an absent official was a routine and it was not illegal.

On the difference in various lists, he said the lists were compiled at different times and when the compensation was announced those who were being treated at private hospitals also came to the DHQ hospital for treatment. Every single point had been explained in the explanation sent to the DC office, he added.

DC Shafqatullah Mushtaq denied the allegations, saying the Commissioner Office had sought clarity about the list of the injured shared by the health department.

He said that on the first day of occurrence, a list of 35 people was shared and later another list of 59 was shared. He said all injured persons appeared before the medical board and only 50 of them were recommended for compensation.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2021