Kashmiri surgeon joins PDP. Is there more than what meets the eye?

In July this year, Samiullah's family-owned private hospital was sealed after a death due to to medical negligence

By: Majid Hyderi |
December 13, 2016 6:32 pm

Dr Mir Samiullah, a prominent surgeon joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and party president Mehbooba Mufti on December 12. Samiullah is the first person to join a mainstream political party since July 8 when unrest erupted in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

Welcoming him, Mehbooba said, “PDP is fast emerging as a platform for the right thinking and progressive people to contribute to the welfare and development of the state.”

Elated at joining the party, the surgeon said he was attracted towards PDP by the vision of its founder and late chief minister Mufti Muhammad. “Solution to Kashmir issue lies with PDP. It’s the best political package,” Samiullah told InUth.

But then, is that the real story or is there something more than what meets the eye?

In July this year, Samiullah’s family-owned private hospital was sealed due to medical negligence at the part of the hospital. “In pursuance to the complaint lodged by the family of a patient (resident of Bagh e Mehtab, Srinagar) who died at Star Hospital, Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, an enquiry team was constituted by Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) which after detailed enquiry came to a conclusion that there has been negligence on part of the Doctor and the authorities of the hospital that has led to the death of the patient,” Directorate of Health Services (DHSK) Kashmir had said in a statement.

The team had found out that the said hospital was unregistered and was functioning illegally “without fulfilling the proper norms set up by the Government”.

However, Samiullah refuted allegations being levelled against him and claimed that he has not joined the party to be in the corridors of power. “We have got the (hospital) registration done some two months ago,” he said.

“Hailing from Nayan Batapora in South Kashmir, Dr Samiullah, MCH, is the first liver transplant surgeon of Kashmir Valley besides being a leading pancreatic surgeon,” a PDP handout claimed.