Arshad Sharif’s autopsy photos
Zubair Qureshi
The inquiry committee constituted by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has decided to summon a number of officials over leakage of the autopsy pictures of the senior journalist Arshad Sharif who was killed in mysterious circumstances by the Kenyan police on October 23.
The pictures showing ‘torture marks’ on Arshad Sharif’s body were featured in a TV show recently raising questions on the circumstances in which Arshad Sharif’s car was targeted in Keny where he had gone on the advice of his well-wishers reportedly to escape from his assassins.
The PIMS management has also decided to approach the Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to take action against the said TV channel for airing the disturbing images (pictures) of the late journalist taken during the postmortem at the hospital.
According to an inquiry committee report, the officials summoned by the committee include Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood, Medical Board Chairman Dr S H Waqar, Medical Director Dr S Hashim Raza, members of the medical board, Director IT Mohammad Sohail and Cameraman Medical Board Mohiuddin. The committee is empowered to summon any other official of the hospital if required.
According to the hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood, it was premature to say how the pictures were leaked and went viral on social media.
About delay in issuance of the postmortem report to the family of late Arshad Sharif, Dr Khalid Masood said initially the family did not contact him and the application was submitted in the office of the Joint Executive Officer (JED).
I have said this in the TV interview a day earlier and I stand by my words that Arshad’s family did not contact me and there was no truth in the news run by electronic media that the family was contacting me since the first day.
In fact Arshad’s family contacted me on Thursday, Nov 10 and I sought a clarification from the JED,” he added.
He said the JED had informed him that the postmortem report was shared with the police on the very first day.
President Dr Arif Alvi in his interaction with media persons had informed that Arshad Sharif was facing threats to his life and had written a letter to him in that regard. “I forwarded that letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with comments,” said Arif Alvi.
