STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : Charge Nurse Shakeela Naz, posted in the Gynecology Unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), has alleged that incidents of workplace harassment, illegal activities, alleged unlawful abortions, and the alleged sale of women’s placentas and prematurely born stillborn babies are taking place at the hospital. She called for a transparent and impartial investigation into all the allegations and demanded strict action against those found responsible.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Shakeela Naz, daughter of Haji Hakam Khan and a resident of Dabgari, Peshawar, said she has been serving in HMC’s Gynecology Unit for the past 18 years. She claimed that over the past few years, certain senior hospital officials and doctors repeatedly attempted to harass her, but she refused to bow to pressure and continued performing her professional duties.
She alleged that after she raised her voice against what she described as illegal activities at the hospital, particularly illegal abortions and other irregularities, a series of inquiries were initiated against her and she was subjected to administrative actions.
Shakeela Naz further claimed that women’s placentas and the bodies of prematurely born stillborn babies were allegedly being sold to China. She said she had been raising this issue for the past decade and, as a result, had been facing continuous pressure, harassment, and retaliatory actions.
She stated that several inquiries were initiated against her without any show-cause notice and that she was transferred to the Directorate General of Health. She said she challenged the decision in court and obtained a stay order, but according to her, the hospital administration has failed to comply with the court’s directives.
She also claimed that she was transferred from the Gynecology Unit to another department and was later asked to deposit Rs. 800,000, despite the fact that, according to her, she had been assigned duties under the IPP system with the approval of the hospital administration, which itself collected all related fees.
Shakeela Naz said that had she accepted the demands of those allegedly harassing her, she would not have been subjected to repeated inquiries, transfers, and other hardships. She further alleged that an influential group within the hospital was involved in harassing nurses and engaging in illegal activities without facing any effective action.
She appealed to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, the Chief Secretary, the Provincial Health Minister, and other relevant authorities to provide her with justice, restore her suspended salary, take action against those responsible for the alleged harassment, and order an independent inquiry into the alleged illegal activities at Hayatabad Medical Complex.
She concluded by saying that she was not only fighting for herself but also for many female employees who, out of fear and pressure, are unable to speak publicly about their experiences.
