Pakistani Woman ‘drugged, raped and killed’ by Hospital Staff

Pakistani woman Asmat Junejo, aged 22, has allegedly been drugged, raped and killed by hospital staff in Karachi.

At least four medical officials, including a doctor, are said to be involved in the rape and murder of the young woman.

Asmat visited the Sindh Government Hospital for treatment of her toothache.

However, a doctor along with three others allegedly drugged and subdued her. They then raped her before poisoning her which resulted in her death.

On April 18, 2019, Asmat’s mother was told that her daughter’s condition was getting worse, despite only complaining of a toothache. She then went to the hospital.

When she arrived, staff members told her that her daughter was transferred to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The victim’s mother went to the other hospital but when she found out her daughter was not there, she returned and began looking for Asmat.

The woman later discovered her daughter’s body lying on a stretcher in one of the back rooms.

Family members were told she had died due to a fatal antibiotic reaction, however, a postmortem revealed evidence that she had been sexually assaulted before her death.

Asmat’s family described her as a bright, independent and fiercely committed young woman.

Her family called for a press conference to demand justice against the hospital workers who were involved. This attracted attention.

Anis Haroon, from the National Commission for Human Rights Pakistan stated that it was the government’s responsibility to discover what actually happened and to punish those who are responsible.

She said: “We demand an inquiry from the government. We also ask the Pakistan Medical Association to look into this matter as the doctors accused and involved in the crime take oaths to save lives, not take lives.”

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered the police to take action against those responsible.

Shah stated that “the death of a patient suffering from toothache is painful for me”.

He then ordered the police to register an FIR of the alleged rape and murder of Asmat. He added that they will report the progress of their investigation to him.

Retired Justice Majida Rizvi, the chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, said that she was shocked to learn that hospital staff would plan to commit such a heinous crime and then work together to hide it.

She also offered her complete support to the victim’s family.

Three suspects have been arrested. They have been identified as Shahzaib, Aamir and Wali. Dr Ayaz is the fourth suspect and has not yet been found.