GK CITY REPORTER
Srinagar, July 11: Rubeena Shah, sister of senior separatist leader Advocate Shahid ul Islam passed away last night after a brief illness at SMHS Hospital. She was 28. 
 The family said it was “typical case of negligence because when she was dying for care the doctors were busy with Golden Jubilee Celebrations at the Government Medical College Srinagar".

THE ‘NEGLIGENCE’
 Rubeena, who had a suffered a fracture near her shoulder was admitted in the hospital on Saturday last week when the mega celebrations were going on at the adjacent GMC campus.
 As per Shahid, a Hurriyat (M) leader, she was scheduled to undergo a CT Scan and MRI at the hospital.
  “But as doctors in the Government Medical College were busy with Golden Jubilee celebrations, patients were left to die. My sister had to undergo CT scan and MRI, but there was no doctor or para-medic available to conduct these tests on Saturday. Was the CT and MRI done in time my sister’s life could have been saved,” visibly upset Shahid told Greater Kashmir.
 “The staff present in the MRI and CT section categorically refused to perform the tests,” he added.
 When asked why he didn’t use his personal resources to get the tests done, Shahid said: “It would be against my ethics to utilize personal influence of any kind. We are no different from Aam Aadmi in Kashmir and so want to be treated like that even if it’s disastrous for our own family.”
 While the SMHS doctors said Rubeena died of renal failure Principal GMC, Dr Shahida Mir wasn’t available for comments.

THE FUNERAL
 Valley’s head priest and Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Dr Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Monday morning led the Nimaze-e-Jinazah of the deceased while scores of people from various walks of life including politicians, doctors, engineers and religious personalities attended the condolence meeting, which will last for three days at their ancestral home at Dalgate.

JKLF RAPS GMC CELEBRATIONS
 Both the factions of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front while condoling the demise termed it a case of “medical negligence due to entertainment extravagance.”
 “From day one I was against any Golden Jubilee Celebrations and finally my worst fears came true in my own family because Shahid is just like a brother to me,” Mir, a senior member of JKLF( R)  told the condolence gathering.
 “Was the money spent on useless celebrations utilized on patient care, it would save lives, a job the doctors are meant for. But the daylong entertainment proved deadly for patients,” said Bitta Guru, a senior cadre of Jammu and Kashmir  Liberation Front led by Muhammad Yasin Malik.
 He alleged the government was “leaving no stone unturned to victimize people including patients.”

PDP RELATES IT TO ROME BURNING…
 While the Peoples Democratic Party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed condolences with Shahid over phone, senior party cadres including General Secretary Muhammad Duilawar Mir and Syed Altaf Bukhari visited the bereaved.
 The PDP leaders while condemning the “death due to negligence” related the incident with the centuries old legend: When Rome was burning Nero was fiddling.
 “It’s unexpected of doctors to enjoy some swanky celebrations at the cost of patient care… Doctors have always been known as saviours. But this tragedy has made Shahid Sahib’s family believe otherwise,” Bukhari said.
 He accused the National Conference led government of developing a “culture based on infamous Roman government legend.”
 “When Rome was burning Nero was fiddling… In present times the coalition government in JK is making the entire official machinery fiddle simply because there’s no accountability,” Bukhari said.
 PDP National Spokesperson Dr Sameer Kaul also expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

CONDOLENCES
 Meanwhile condolences continued to pour in from various quarters.
 Senior separatist leaders Nayeem Ahmed Khan visited the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.
 JKLF Chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, who is in Pakistan these days called Shahid on phone and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family.
 Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devnder Singh Rana  also made a call.
 Others who visited the family included JKLF leaders Showkat Bakshi and Noor Muhammad Kalwal, JKLF (R) leaders, Farooq Ahmed Dar aka Bitta Karatee.
 Senior separatist leaders Bilal Gani Lone, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Muhammad Yosuf Naqash, Hakim Abdur Rashid, Iqbal Mir, Yasmin Raja and Moulana Abdullah Tari, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Musadiq Adil and Mushtaq Sofi also visited the bereaved family. 

(With inputs from KNS)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST