35 Madrsa Students poisoned in Seerat Conference

Wednesday, 06 February 2013

Photo by Homer Baloch

Homer Baloch

Islamabad: About 35 students of various Madrassas attaneding a National Seerat Conference organized by Qoumi Seerat Council Pakistan at Jinnah convention center Islamabad were rushed to Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic) after eating the poisonous food here on Wednesday.

By the time of filing majority of the students were released after initial treatment by doctors while 15 were still under observation out of which two were considered critical, informed the hospital authorities attending the emergency. These Students were attending a Milad Ceremony where at the end of the conference food was served courtesy Muslim Hands and soon after eating the food from disposable packages, students started complaining about dizziness, while others started vomiting and fainting.
The cuisine arrangements were supervised by Sayyed Zia Ul Noor, The Secretary General of by Qoumi Seerat Council Pakistan under his organization namely, Muslim Hands. While most of the affected students hail from Jamia Dar al Uloom Mohammadiya Ghosia of Chakk Shahzad.

The Milad was arranged under the provision of Sahabzada Peer Muhammad Noor ul Haq Qadri where Chairman Sebnate Nayyar Bukhari was the chief guest while many prominent political and religious figures were in presence including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Senetor Ishaaq Dar, Dr. Farooq Sattar and Sardar Attique.

Dr. Jasim, the doctor on duty told The Spokesman that the students were brought here after four hours of the incident and most of the affected patients were throwing blood with vomiting and suffering loose motions. Some of the patients who were less affected were discharged after initial treatment but a few others along with two critical will remain in the hospital till morning and the decision of discharging them will depend upon their medical reports.

When contacted, Sayyed Zia ul Noor told The Spokesman that all the participants and attendants enjoyed the same food and none of them complained. He told the students got sick due to their overeating and the situation is under control now.