Amal Umar case: Hospital changed date, time of death, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The committee set up to investigate the death of Amal Umar who passed away after being hit by a bullet shot by a police officer during an encounter last year, submitted its report in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The report was submitted by a six-member committee, which includes AD Khawaja, the former inspector-general of Sindh police, and is headed by Justice (retd) Khilji Arif Hussain.

According to the report, National Medical Centre (NMC) where Amal was taken, refused to take responsibility for the death of the 10-year-old. The hospital also changed the date and time of Amal’s death. “The hospital did not give the proper medical equipment to transfer the wounded child and even lied to the committee,” the report said. “NMC also changed the date and time of her death so that it could be proved that the child was dead on arrival at the hospital.”

On August 13, 2018, Amal was killed when a policeman fired a bullet attempting to kill a robber, who had looted her family a few minutes earlier in Karachi’s Akhtar Colony area as they waited at a traffic light to attend a concert on the eve of Independence Day. 

The wounded child was rushed to NMC, where her parents claimed that the staff had refused to help them as it was a 'medico-legal case' and asked them to take the child to Jinnah Hospital. The parents further said that Aman Foundation had refused to send an ambulance till arrangements were made at Jinnah Hospital. By the time an ambulance reached them, Amal had died.

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Amal Umer’s parents recall horrifying events that led to her death

10-year-old Amal was hit by a bullet from an AK-47, which was fired by a policeman attempting to kill a bandit

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The report submitted to the apex court also stated that the Aman Foundation ambulance service had accepted its mistake.

Advocate Faisal Siddiqui who is part of the committee told the court that the committee looked at the case from four angles. “Police admitted its negligence and accepted that the police officer in question was handed the weapon without being given proper training,” he said.

The advocate added that the Sindh Health Commission submitted a report in favour of the hospital. On this, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar questioned if NMC should be given time to submit a reply to the report.

To this Siddiqi replied, that they should be allowed to submit a response.

The apex court then directed Karachi Police, Sindh Health Commission, Aman Foundation and NMC to submit their replies to the inquiry report.

On September 18, 2018, Justice Nisar had taken notice of Amal's death and ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the tragedy.

Amal's parents thank CJP 

During the hearing, Justice Nisar asked Amal’s parents if they wanted the hearing to take place in Karachi or Islamabad. To this Amal’s mother, Beenish replied that it was better if the hearing could continue in Islamabad.

“I apologise I could not finish hearing the Amal case. I know your struggle is now to provide safety to other children like Amal,” Justice Nisar said to the parents.

Amal's parents thanked the chief justice and the bench for taking notice of the incident.

The case was then adjourned for 10 days.