A Lahore-based doctor, Ali Zain-ul-Abideen, has alleged that a police officer, SP Shehrbano Naqvi, forced him to pay hundreds of thousands of rupees to a patient, an allegation which the female police officer has denied.
According to reports, Dr Ali Zain has levelled serious accusations against SP Shehrbano Naqvi, while the officer has rejected claims of harassment and misconduct.
Dr Ali Zain-ul-Abideen alleged that the police officer compelled him to pay large sums of money to a patient. He said he performed laser eye surgery on the patient in April, which, according to him, was successful.
Presenting his account, the doctor said police officials told him that the surgery had not been carried out properly and demanded that he compensate the patient so she could undergo treatment elsewhere.
He further alleged that ASP Defence Shehrbano Naqvi summoned him to the police station by phone, where she told him that the surgery had been performed incorrectly and ordered him to refund the operation charges. He claimed the patient had already visited his clinic earlier and forcibly taken Rs400,000, despite having paid only Rs150,000 for the laser eye surgery.
Dr Ali Zain said he informed the officer that he had already paid the amount, but was told to pay again. He alleged that, under police pressure, he handed over three cheques worth Rs1 million each to the patient. One of the cheques has reportedly been cashed, while his legal team has decided to take legal action to stop payment on the remaining two.
He claimed that due to the alleged pressure, the patient has so far obtained Rs750,000 from him, and alleged that she appeared to have close links with the police.
The doctor further alleged that Shehrbano Naqvi sent SHO Khurram to his clinic to summon him to the police station, and that the SHO unlawfully detained his security guard at the police station.
Dr Ali Zain maintained that police cannot summon a doctor without a medical report or a decision by a medical board, questioning the police’s authority to determine whether a surgical procedure was correctly performed.
He stated that such assessments fall under the jurisdiction of a medical board, not police officers.
In response, SP Shehrbano Naqvi denied allegations of harassment or coercion, stating that Dr Ali Zain visited her office only once.
She said he was merely advised to resolve the matter with the patient, and denied that any misconduct, abuse or violence took place.
