PESHAWAR: Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Peshawar Cardiology Department Assistant Professor Dr Lubna Noor has resigned from the office, alleging discrimination on gender grounds and indifferent attitude of her seniors.
In a two-page resignation letter submitted to LRH dean, Dr Lubna stated that she was facing gender discrimination in the cardiology ward since the last six years. In this respect, she mentioned the name of Cardiology Department Head Dr Adnan Gul Mehmood and his subordinates, including an outsider, Dr Adnan Gul, and stated that the same people had contradicted harassment allegations during inquiry proceedings held in response to earlier applications.
The lady doctor, serving in one of the busiest hospital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tried to bring to the dean’s attention the previous applications filed by her in this regard, whereas, no action was taken against the persons concerned. In previous inquiries, allegations of harassment on gender grounds was confirmed by the persons concerned.
When contacted, LRH Public Relations Officer Zulfikar Babakhel confirmed that Dr Lubna Noor had submitted her resignation on a one-month period. Soon after receiving the resignation, the dean and the hospital director ordered inquiry into the allegations leveled by Dr Lubna Noor against her colleagues.
Answering a query, Zulfikar said that both Dr Adnan Gul and Dr Lubna Noor were counted amongst the most decent, talented and hardworking doctors in the entire facility. He said, “At this stage no opinion can be given on this issue, but sometimes in a workplace, such misunderstandings and mistrust can develop between colleagues on different issues.”
He confirmed that Dr Lubna had also named an outsider working with Dr Adnan in private capacity for harassing her, adding that all such matters were being probed by hospital administration.
Cases of harassment are increasing in Pakistan each day, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not prone to this culture. Rukhshanda Naz, a women rights activist, said, “Women are harassed in public places and offices due to lack of proper action against the responsible persons by the quarters concerned.”
