Murtaza Bhutto

POLICE SURGEON'S ROLE CRITICISED BY
TRIBUNAL
KARACHI, Jan 6, 1997: Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, chairman of the threemember
tribunal investigating into the causes of death of Mir Murtaza Bhutto
in the police firing on Sept 20 last, told the police surgeon of Karachi, Dr
Nizamuddin Memon, on Monday that "we are finding one quality in you to
see that you justify holding the position of police surgeon. We have not found
one so far."
The chairman observed that the police surgeon, a prized post held by him,
has been making vague statements before the tribunal such as "I don't know,"
"It didn't strike me," "I can't recollect now," "If I had made some observation
that would have annoyed some other doctors," etc. The police surgeon was
told by the tribunal, two other members of which are Justice Amanullah
Abbasi and Justice (Dr) Ghous Mohammad, judges of the High Court of
Sindh, that he was slow in action, slow to recollect, slow to act and a man in
his position should be an example for being very upright and who always
values principles and that no body should point fingers at him. It was further
pointed out to him that character, integrity, discipline, courage and other
similar qualities one could not find in him.
On a question from the tribunal whether there was a fourth medical board to
find out if Mideast Medical Centre had the facilities to treat people where Mir
Murtaza Bhutto was taken after he was injured on Sept 20 last?
A: I am not aware of any such inquiries from the government as I heard about
it only a day before, when Dr Abdul Karim Siddiqui, professor and head of
the department of surgery of DMC, was searching for the papers about the
medical board. I was not a member of that board either.
Q: There was a time lag between the examination of ASP Shahid Hayat and
submitting the report to the health secretary, and during this period you
attempted to dilute the report?
A: I never made any such attempt to dilute the report of the injuries suffered
by the ASP.
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