Baby’s parents say traffic jam caused by Bilawal’s motorcade and heavy security personnel deployed at hospital delayed treatment to child, resulting in her death

Bilawal expresses regret over incident, says will investigate ‘what went wrong’

A 10-month old girl died at the door of Karachi’s Civil Hospital after her father was allegedly denied entry by protocol staff due to the arrival of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the public medical facility.

The PPP chairman was there to inaugurate the newly built Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre.

Talking to reporters, the victim’s father blamed the VIP protocol given to the PPP chairman for his child’s death, as he was denied entry into the hospital.

Bisma’s parents claimed that they remained stuck in the traffic jam due to the VIP movement before arriving at the hospital where the ailing girl was denied entry as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting the facility.

All the entry and exit points of the medical facility were closed and even ambulances were not allowed to enter the hospital as Bilawal, along with the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah arrived to inaugurate the trauma centre.

“First I came through bike, then on foot but was denied entry, in the meantime my baby girl died,” said the victim’s father.

The man claimed that he had always voted for PPP but was rewarded with the death of his child.

Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khuhro told reporters that he is grieved if someone has died but “Bilawal’s security is more important”.

“Bilawal, who always had security concerns, is dearest to us and whatever we did it was in the better interest of the country. As the country’s well being is linked to their security.”

Khuhro added that since the chief minister was also coming, so the protocol was a necessity.

Zardari, Bilawal order inquiry:

Soon after the news of Bisma’s death spread, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari and his son, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto issued separate statements regretting the incident and said they had ordered an investigation “to trace those responsible”.

In his statement, Zardari expressed his regrets over the sad incident and directed that heavy security protocol be avoided near hospitals to prevent inconvenience to common people.

Bilawal in separate tweets said: “Anguished over Bisma’s death, I am personally enquiring into this heart breaking incident to ascertain what went wrong.”

Later the party’s media cell issued a statement suggesting that Bilawal has taken strong notice of the reports in electronic media about the death of a 10-month-old girl due to VVIP security provided during his visit to Civil Hospital, Karachi and ordered Sindh government for an impartial enquiry.

“The PPP chairman said that a transparent inquiry should be conducted into the reported death and complete findings should be made public. He said anyone found responsible must be taken to task,” read the statement.

While expressing grief over the incident, Bilawal Bhutto’s sister Bakhtawar urged all to wait for the inquiry to be completed before jumping to conclusions.

In her Twitter message, Bakhtawar claimed that the PPP chairman did not order a shutdown of hospital.

Dr Said Ahmed Qureishi, Medical Superintendent CHK regretted the trouble faced by citizens but dispelled the impression that this is due to presence of eminent personalities.

“It is mainly due to encroachments around the hospital that has restricted the mobility of the people, including, patients visiting CHK,” he said.

Dr Qureishi said KMC authorities have been reportedly informed about the situation but no action was taken by them.

About the Bisma’s death due to closed gates of the hospital, he in most categorical terms said no gate of CHK was closed.

CM VISITS GIRL’S FATHER:

Later in the evening, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah met the child’s father Faisal Baloch, a resident of Lyari, and assured him that a senior police official was holding the inquiry into the matter. He also offered a government job to Faisal.