Bilawal's security protocol claims toddler's life at Karachi hospital

KARACHI: A 10-month-old baby died because of not getting prompt medical attention on Wednesday after her parents were stopped from entering Karachi's Civil Hospital due to security restrictions set up for Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The PPP chairman was attending a function at the Civil Hospital, where strict security arrangements were in place for his visit.

The father, Faisal, said Bisma died after her security guards refused them entry to the hospital's emergency ward for over an hour.

"I was stuck here for an hour. Doctors said the child's life may have been saved if I would have brought her 10 minutes earlier. She died in ten minutes," said Faisal, with tears in his eyes, as he carried the child's body outside the hospital.

Faisal, who resides in the PPP stronghold of Lyari, said Bisma was suffering from a breathing ailment.

He said he would have been able to save his daughter's life if he was not caught in the hours-long traffic jam outside the hospital due to the security measures taken for the PPP chairman and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah's visit.



The PPP leaders were attending a ceremony to inaugurate a new trauma centre at the Civil hostpial, which is the city's largest public medical facility.

"The most-dear to us is Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari, as there have been several security concerns over his own and his family's life," said senior PPP leader Nisar Khuhro.

Khuhro said he was unaware of the incident.

"If there was security here, we put it in place keeping in mind Pakistan's security, because Pakistan's security lies in the security of (these leaders). I apologise if such an incident has occurred," he said.