Several dead bodies found on roof of hospital in Pakistan

In a tale of “sheer negligence”, decomposing bodies were found on the roof of Nishtar Hospital in Multan on Friday, prompting the provincial government to form a committee to investigate the matter.

On receiving reports of abandoned bodies on the hospital roof, the Punjab chief minister ordered his Adviser, Chaudhry Tariq Zaman Gujjar, to pay a surprise visit to the medical facility and submit a report after reviewing the situation, reports Pakistan media The Express Tribune.

Contrary to initial reports of the presence of 500 bodies, only four were there, as could be seen in a now viral video of the CM adviser’s visit.

Some reports claim that the Nishtar Medical University (NMU) administration was worried about the surprise visit and opening the door of the hospital’s roof.

According to a spokesperson for NMU, four sets of human remains were found on the roof, all largely decomposed.

Additional Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Saqib Zafar directed Specialised Healthcare Secretary Muzamil Bashir to look into the incident.

He also formed a six-member team to investigate the matter.

Bashir is the convener of the committee, while members include Prof Dr Masood Rauf Haraj of the NMU, Assistant Professor Anatomy Dr Shafiqullah Chaudhry, Senior Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Arfan Arshad and one representative each from the deputy commissioner and the city police officer of Multan.

The committee will present its report within three days.

Acting NMU vice chancellor Prof Dr Mahnaz Khakwani also formed a three-member inquiry committee, which included Prof Dr Abbas Naqvi, Dr Ghulam Mustafa and Dr Tariq Pirzada.

According to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the home department, a letter was sent to the central police office for the burial of the bodies.

The South Punjab Services and General Administration Department sent a letter to the Nishtar Hospital medical superintendent, demanding that the incident of the dumped bodies be thoroughly investigated.

However, it is important to mention that dead bodies are also used for medical study.

Anatomy Department chief Dr Maryam Ashraf, while talking to The Express Tribune, said the unidentified bodies brought by police were chemically treated and stored in the freezer, provided the process of decomposition had not started.