ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended six officials at Nishtar Hospital Multan, including the medical superintendent, for severe negligence that led to the spread of AIDS among dialysis patients, state media reported on Saturday.
According to local news outlets, the negligence involved reusing disposable dialysis kits and dialyzers, failing to conduct mandatory AIDS and hepatitis tests every three months and improper adherence to medical protocols.
Hospital officials acknowledged that 25 patients contracted AIDS after undergoing dialysis using equipment previously contaminated by infected individuals.
“Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Nishtar Hospital Multan and suspended six officials, including MS Nishtar Hospital and the head of the nephrology department, on severe negligence,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“She took action against doctors and nurses for spreading AIDS during dialysis,” it added.
AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), attacks the immune system and leaves individuals vulnerable to infections and certain cancers. In Pakistan, the social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS has led to significant underreporting, with UNAIDS estimating approximately 290,000 people living with HIV in the country as of 2023.
According to Pakistan’s Geo TV, the chief minister inspected the hospital during her visit and criticized its poor compliance with standard operating procedures.
She described the situation as “criminal negligence” and expressed dissatisfaction despite the government’s allocation of resources to the health sector.
“It is unacceptable that patients who come to government hospitals for treatment end up contracting AIDS instead,” Geo quoted her as saying.
Public health facilities in Pakistan face a severe trust deficit, with many patients preferring private hospitals despite their high costs. Poor management, insufficient oversight and a lack of adherence to medical protocols continue to erode confidence in the public health care system.
The Punjab chief minister emphasized the need for stricter compliance with protocols and greater accountability for medical staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
She also inspected cardiology and other wards during her visit.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has warned of potential militant attacks targeting former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s protest march, according to a classified alert shared with provincial officials earlier this week.
The alert, issued on Thursday but revealed in the media on Saturday, cited intelligence from “multiple sources” indicating that militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and infiltrated major cities.
Referring to the TTP as “Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK),” the alert warned that its fighters could target participants of the PTI protest.
“Sources have confirmed that FAK elements are planning to conduct such activities in public/political gatherings; most likely upcoming PTI protest/march as opportunity to exploit for their vested interest,” the alert, in possession of Arab News, said.
A senior NACTA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed its authenticity.
The PTI has called on its followers to march on Islamabad on Sunday to demand Khan’s release, as he has been imprisoned for over a year.
The march also aims to protest alleged electoral manipulation in February’s general elections and to highlight concerns over judicial independence, which the government has denied.
The Taliban have not officially responded to the alert regarding their potential involvement in attacks. However, the militant group has previously maintained that it has a policy of not targeting ordinary citizens.
The government has already urged the PTI to call off the protest, citing an Islamabad High Court ruling that instructed authorities to engage with the party and ensure no disruptions in the capital ahead of a major foreign delegation visit next week.
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko will arrive in Islamabad on a three-day visit starting Monday to discuss economic collaboration between the two countries.