PAKPATTAN: A court has announced its verdict in the case concerning the deaths of 20 children at the children’s ward of DHQ Hospital Pakpattan, acquitting the two doctors nominated in the case, CEO Health Dr Sohail Asghar and Medical Superintendent Dr Adnan Ghafar.
The deaths occurred between June 16 and 22, 2025, at the children’s ward of DHQ Hospital Pakpattan. Reports said a large number of the deceased were newborns, while the deaths of five children in a single day on June 19 had raised further concerns over the situation at the hospital.
Families of the deceased had alleged that the hospital faced problems with the availability of oxygen and that the children did not receive timely oxygen and other essential medical treatment. In a case filed by one of the fathers, it was alleged that his newborn daughter died due to a lack of oxygen and adequate medical care.
An internal hospital inquiry also confirmed the deaths of 20 children between June 16 and 22. However, the inquiry report did not directly link the deaths to an oxygen shortage or negligence by doctors and paramedical staff. It stated that most of the children had been brought to the hospital in critical condition, while also pointing out shortcomings in the hospital’s administrative and documentation systems.
According to police, the case regarding the deaths of the 20 children was registered on July 5, 2025, after the Punjab chief minister visited DHQ Hospital Pakpattan and received several complaints from citizens about the facility. Police said both officials were arrested at the time on the chief minister’s directions.
According to the court’s verdict, the absence of post-mortem reports and medical experts’ opinions was one of the key reasons for acquitting the two accused. The court also noted that no recommendation had been obtained from the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) for registration of the case.
The court observed that under the Punjab Healthcare Commission Act, 2010, a recommendation from the PHC is required before a criminal case can be registered against a doctor. Since no such recommendation was available in the present case, the court acquitted CEO Health Dr Sohail Asghar and Medical Superintendent Dr Adnan Ghafar.
