Shamim Shahid
PESHAWAR: A serving charge nurse at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Peshawar, has publicly alleged that she has been subjected to workplace harassment and administrative retaliation, prompting calls for an impartial inquiry into the matter.
During a press conference, Charge Nurse Shakeela Naz claimed that she faced harassment by officials associated with the hospital administration and health authorities. She alleged that after refusing to comply with certain directives, she was transferred to the Directorate General (DG) Health office, subjected to multiple departmental inquiries, and had her salary withheld for several months.
According to the nurse, she obtained relief from a court regarding her grievances, but the relevant authorities have yet to implement the court’s orders. She stated that she has served at HMC for the past 18 years and believes the actions taken against her were in retaliation for raising concerns about alleged irregularities within the hospital.
Among her allegations, Shakeela Naz claimed that illegal private abortions were being carried out in the hospital’s gynecology unit and further alleged the existence of an illegal network involving placentas and the bodies of prematurely born stillborn babies. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no official evidence has been presented publicly to substantiate the claims.
The charge nurse also named certain administrative and medical personnel, accusing them of harassment and involvement in the alleged activities. She appealed to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, the Chief Secretary, and the Provincial Health Minister to order a transparent investigation, ensure her protection, restore her withheld salary, and take legal action against anyone found responsible.
At the time of writing, no official response or clarification had been issued by Hayatabad Medical Complex or the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department regarding the allegations.
The case has attracted attention amid broader concerns about governance and accountability in the province’s public health sector. Critics have long argued that political interference, administrative disputes, and allegations of corruption have adversely affected the performance and reputation of public healthcare institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Observers note that workplace harassment has been reported in several public sector institutions, including the health and education sectors, with many employees reluctant to come forward due to fears of victimization.
The provincial government recently appointed Fayaz Ali Shah as Secretary Health, a move widely viewed as an effort to strengthen governance and improve the functioning of the health department. Analysts believe that a transparent and impartial inquiry into the allegations raised by the HMC charge nurse could serve as an important test of the government’s commitment to accountability and institutional reform.
Until an official investigation is completed, the allegations remain unproven, and all individuals and institutions named are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence.
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