At least 30 people were admitted to hospital on Thursday after they drank the refreshments offered at a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) corner meeting.
Those taken to the hospital included Chaudhry Gulraiz Afzal Gondal, a brother of Chaudhry Nadeem Afzal Gondal, former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and a candidate for NA-64 (Sargodha).
Some of them, though the doctors did not specify how many, are in a ‘serious condition’. Gulraiz Gondal, however, is not one of them.
Those affected were taken to hospitals in Bhera and Bhalwal. At the Bhalwal tehsil headquarters hospital, there was no electricity and patients had to be treated in candlelight. Doctors Mohammad Aslam , Amjad Latif Malik and Mohammad Ismail – all of whom work at the rural health centre in Bhera – said that the patients were throwing up and complaining of abdominal pain.
Some had diarrhoea. All these, said the doctors, are symptoms of poisoning. They said that since such a large number of people had fallen sick at the same time and had happened to drink the refreshments served at the corner meeting, it seemed that there was something wrong with the drink that was served.
They, however, said that nothing could be said for certain. Tests are needed to determine which, if any, poison was added to the drink, said the doctors.
After news of the incident spread, PPP workers gathered outside the Bhera RHC. Nadeem Afzal Gondal also visited the hospital.
He described the incident as a ‘tragedy’. He said he condemned the “inhuman tactics” being employed by their opponents. “PPP’s history is full of sacrifices. We will continue to sacrifice ourselves for this country and nation to ensure that those in power and undemocratic elements get what they deserve,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2013.