By our correspondent
KARACHI: Sources revealed that Executive Director Karachi Institute of Heart Disease Professor Dr Riffat Sultana had faced an incident of political interference in the government-run body. They claimed that some KIHD doctors and lower staff, under the umbrella of a political party, wanted to have their illegal demands fulfilled.
Sources further said, on condition of anonymity, that the Executive Director of KIHD was convening an official emergency meeting in the institute’s boardroom when, during the meeting, Dr Kamal Nasir, a politically backed KIHD employee, forcefully entered without permission and approached Dr Riffat Sultana. He confronted her aggressively and began to harass her, demanding that his illegal demands be fulfilled.
The sources said that, fortunately, other individuals were present in the meeting and intervened, dragging Dr Nasir away as he attempted to approach and seemingly attack her. They added that the KIHD boardroom is fully covered with CCTV cameras, and the incident was captured as it unfolded. When other officers attempted to stop Dr Kamal Nasir, he began shouting and used extremely inappropriate and offensive language.
Meanwhile, the employees of KIHD appealed to Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah and Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Pechohu to take immediate and appropriate action against those involved, who claimed affiliation with the Pakistan People’s Party.
Sources further said that later Asif Masood, an OT technician at KIHD, allegedly pretending to be drunk, came to the Executive Director’s office, accompanied by Wajahat Hussain, a lift operator at KIHD, to harass and abuse her. They said that Dr Sultana, despite being on government premises, felt extremely unsafe and immediately left the institute.
