Police fail to arrest Hassaan Niazi despite raids
He wasn't initially named in the FIR lodged against lawyers on Thursday but later was added.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Lahore Police have failed to arrest Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nephew Barrister Hassaan Niazi – who was involved in the lawyers’ attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Dec.11 and has been specifically implicated in the case of torching of a police van – despite of several attempts.
On Saturday, police raided a farmhouse owned by Mr Hassaan Niazi in Raiwind but he wasn’t there. His home was also raided on Friday but Hassaan wasn’t present at home.
Police said they conducted the raid after locating Hassaan using mobile data and collecting information based on intelligence. “But Hassaan fled before the raid,” policemen said.
Footage went viral of Hassaan, the son of Hafeezullah Niazi, participating in the violent lawyers’ march on the PIC.
He wasn’t initially named in the FIR lodged against more than 200 lawyers on Thursday but later was added.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the spokesperson for the federal government, said on Thursday that PM Imran Khan believed in the rule of the law and not even his nephew was above the law. She told reporters in Islamabad that, “His nephew or whosoever is wanted by the law… the law will follow him.”
Mr Hassaan, on his Twitter account, acknowledged that he had participated in the protest and said he felt “ashamed of himself”. He claimed that his support was limited to the initiation of legal action against the doctors but videos that went viral on social media showed him actively participating in the protest.
Niazi’s old video goes viral
Meanwhile, an old video of Mr Niazi went viral on the social media in which he could be seen criticising Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and some other ministers for backing a gang of thugs in Rawalpindi.
“Whenever there’s injustice, you are required to raise your voice […] I hardly escaped their attack […] seven of people are in hospital [getting treatment],” he said.
“I request PTI members to identify such persons in our party who are damaging our Prime Minister’s agenda […] it is your responsibility to raise voice against them whosoever that may be, your father, brother, sister, a close friend or any helper,” he added.
PTI dissociates itself from Hassaan Niazi
On Saturday, Mr Chohan said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has no connection with Mr Niazi.
The minister held a press conference and said raids were being conducted at PM Khan nephew Hassaan Niazi’s home and farmhouse in the Naya Pakistan as those who had vandalised the PIC would not be spared.
“Hassaan Niazi is Hafeezullah Niazi’s son first and Imran Khan’s nephew later. The government was taking action against him with full force. Several suspects involved in the PIC assault were detained and some arrested lawyers were produced before the court as well,” he said.
“The government is bringing a security bill for the safety of hospitals, doctors and paramedical staff which will soon be approved by the assembly […] the PIC infrastructure has been reinstated better than its previous form and the hospital is functional now. Police shelling was done on Jail Road, not at the PIC and I reached the incident spot to stop it. The casualties could have increased had the shelling not been stopped. Lawyers, doctors and people from other communities, all are respectable for us and we need to establish the writ of the government. I put my life in danger to save 15 lawyers,” he said.
“Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had handed over exchequer of Rs100 billion to his daughter Maryam Nawaz. On the other hand, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s son, brother or any other relative has not been made incharge of any program.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has problem with Usman Buzdar’s efforts.
“Whole nation is in distress regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan. Further action will be decided when the deadline given by court ends. The PML-N supremo visits hospitals only when he has to submit medical report in court. Otherwise, he is seen visiting London and eating burgers.”
PIC OPD, indoor services remain suspended
The out-patient department (OPD) and indoor services of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) remained suspended on the fifth consecutive day after hundreds of lawyers rampaged through the cardiac health facility.
Reportedly, hundreds of patients are still deprived of several medical tests, including angiography and echocardiography which are critically important for heart patients before doctors can proceed with their treatment.
The closure of the operation theatre has further worsened the situation for incoming patients. Dozens of patients had been already shifted to other hospitals on Wednesday evening.
However, the emergency ward has been made functional, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar stated on Saturday.
“Patients were facing difficulties due to closure of the emergency […] other services will also be restored soon,” he said, adding that it has been decided to perform legislation for the protection of hospitals, doctors and staff. He said that the Health Professionals Security Bill would soon be tabled in the cabinet.
New medical equipment, machinery, furniture and other items have been supplied to the emergency ward.
The CCU is a hospital ward specialised for the care of patients with severe cardiac conditions which require continuous monitoring and treatment.
In total, around 12,000 heart patients suffered severe hardships and 35 patients couldn’t undergo bypass, and angioplasty and angiography procedure of 250 patients was postponed due to absence of doctors and paramedics from their duties.
They demanded protection before returning to their workplaces. Other patients couldn’t undergo diagnostic tests owing to closure of medical services at all departments.
Meanwhile, the restoration work has begun for the damaged departments. The medicine counter at the OPD has been restored and medicines to admitted patients are being supplied in the intensive care unit (ICU).
