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CHAKWAL: Three minors were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse in separate incidents reported in Chakwal district, with police registering cases against the suspects and arresting three men, including a mosque imam, while two others were taken into custody after an alleged exchange of fire. The incidents, reported in the jurisdictions of Wanhar and Kallar Kahar police stations, have caused concern among residents and prompted calls for effective protection of children and swift action against those found responsible. In the first case, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a local mosque imam after other children attending Quran lessons had left the mosque, according to the complaint lodged by her father with Wanhar police. The complainant said his two daughters regularly went to a nearby mosque in Mohallah Bawa Khan Baig to learn Quranic recitation. On the day of the alleged incident, the imam allegedly sent the 5years younger sister home early and dismissed the other children after hearing their lessons. According to the complaint, the suspect then allegedly called the 10-year-old girl into a room and sexually assaulted her. The girl was allegedly threatened with a knife and warned that she would be killed if she disclosed the incident to anyone. Police registered a case against the imam and launched an investigation. The suspect was subsequently arrested in an injured condition during an operation in the Manara area, police said. According to police, a raid on Wasnal Road, Manara, to arrest the suspect when he allegedly attempted to flee after seeing the police party. Police said the suspect stumbled and fell while fleeing, causing a pistol allegedly concealed in his waistband to discharge. He sustained a gunshot wound and was arrested before being shifted to the Trauma Centre in Kallar Kahar for medical treatment. The suspect was identified as Maulvi Saqlain Hussain, son of Nazar Hussain, a resident of Manara. In a separate incident within the jurisdiction of Kallar Kahar police station, a 16-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man who was staying at a local mosque in Shamsabad, near Khai village. According to the complaint filed by the boy’s father, who is a prayer leader at the mosque, the suspect allegedly assaulted his son and later attempted to assault him again. The complainant said the boy had initially remained silent about the alleged earlier incident out of fear. However, when he went to serve food to the traveller staying at the mosque, a commotion was heard after some time. The mosque caretaker and the boy’s father allegedly reached the spot and saw the suspect attempting to assault the boy, prompting the suspect to flee, according to the complaint. The boy later informed his father about the alleged earlier incident as well. In the third incident, two men allegedly involved in the sexual assault of a Class 10 student were arrested in an injured condition following an alleged exchange of fire in Chak Nagri, an area falling within Wanhar police jurisdiction. According to police, the suspects and two unidentified accomplices had allegedly taken the student to a nearby forest several days earlier, subjected him to severe physical assault and sexually assaulted him. Police alleged that the suspects recorded the incident and subsequently used the video to blackmail and intimidate the student. A police team later raided the suspected hideout to arrest the accused, police said. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police party along with their two unidentified accomplices. During the ensuing exchange of fire, the two wanted suspects sustained gunshot wounds, allegedly after being hit by firing from their own accomplices, according to police. The two unidentified men escaped under the cover of darkness and the forest terrain. The injured suspects were arrested and shifted to a medical facility for treatment. Police said further investigation and legal proceedings were under way. The three cases have highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of children to sexual violence and exploitation. Residents have called for prompt investigation of the allegations, protection of the victims and strict action against suspects if the charges are established in court. Police officials said investigations into all the cases were continuing and that further action would be taken in accordance with the law.

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered authorities to ensure complete fire safety arrangements at all government hospitals in Rawalpindi. The chief minister has also sought a detailed report from Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir about the safety arrangements at government hospitals across the city. The directive comes amid growing concerns over fire safety at healthcare facilities following the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir said authorities would ensure the installation of proper fire safety systems in all government hospitals. He said work had already started on the installation of fire hydrants at hospitals. The facilities will also be checked to ensure that emergency arrangements are functional and accessible. On the deputy commissioner’s instructions, the Additional Deputy Commissioner visited government hospitals along with Rescue teams. The teams inspected the hospitals and reviewed their existing fire safety arrangements. They also examined the facilities required to respond to an emergency. Officials are focusing on three key areas. These include fire alarms, fire hydrants and emergency exits. The administration has been directed to ensure that fire alarms are operational and that hydrants are available at appropriate locations. Emergency exits are also being checked to ensure that patients, attendants and hospital staff can leave buildings quickly during an emergency. The deputy commissioner said the safety of patients was the administration’s top priority. He warned that no negligence would be tolerated in implementing fire safety measures. The inspection campaign is aimed at identifying weaknesses before they lead to a major incident. Authorities are also expected to take corrective measures wherever deficiencies are found. Government hospitals handle large numbers of patients every day. Many patients are also critically ill and cannot be moved quickly during an emergency. Officials therefore consider functional fire prevention and evacuation systems essential for protecting patients and medical staff.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has said the province has been facing a shortage of nurses for a long time, while many other countries are also struggling to meet the growing demand for nursing professionals. Speaking at a press briefing on the overall health situation in Sindh, Pechuho said the provincial government was taking steps to increase the number of nurses and improve nursing education and training. She said work on health policies and legislation was carried out last year, while several initiatives were continuing this year to strengthen different areas of the healthcare system. According to the minister, discussions are also under way with the Asian Development Bank to support efforts aimed at increasing the nursing workforce. Pechuho said a unified admission policy was being introduced for nursing colleges across Sindh. The policy is intended to improve the standard of nursing education and training and ensure greater consistency among institutions. She said around 5,000 nurses currently complete their education and enter the profession every year. The government aims to increase the number of nursing graduates to around 46,000 in the coming years. The health minister said many nurses come from financially disadvantaged families, which is one of the reasons a significant number seek employment opportunities abroad. She said two nursing centres were also being established under a pilot project to expand training and educational opportunities for aspiring nurses. Pechuho further announced that recruitment had been approved for staff at Jinnah Hospital and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). She also highlighted several developments in Sindh’s healthcare infrastructure. According to the minister, the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has been expanded to provide additional healthcare services. A new block has also been established at NICVD, while vascular surgery services have started at the Trauma Centre. The minister said the government was continuing efforts to improve healthcare facilities and expand specialised medical services across the province. Pechuho also said that the rate of maternal deaths had increased in connection with surgical deliveries, highlighting the need for greater attention to maternal healthcare and safer childbirth practices.