Army hospital treats Pakistani children forcibly repatriated by India

The father of two, who was forcibly repatriated by Indian authorities without his children receiving treatment despite having a medical visa, expressed gratitude to Army Chief General Asim Munir for taking responsibility for the medical care of his children. 

The children Abdullah, 9, and Mansa, 7, are suffering from congenital cardiac disease, went to India last month for life-saving surgery on a medical visa. 

However, just after pre-examination of both children, they were expelled from India due to the escalating border tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbours, sparked after the April 22 attack, when unknown gunmen opened fire at tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, leaving 26 killed. 

Shahid, on the very next day of his repatriation, shared a video message in which he condemned the decision of the Indian authority, calling it “inhumane and unethical.”

“There is no religion greater than humanity. Even Hinduism teaches compassion,” he said in a video statement. 

Read: Govt to bear medical expenses for two children forcibly repatriated from India despite having medical visa 

However, Pakistan did not leave Shah helpless; COAS General Asim Munir facilitated the children’s admission to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi.

Shahid expressed gratitude to the Army Chief for his act of kindness, saying that his children were being treated with extraordinary care, beyond his expectations. 

According to Dr Mehboob Sultan of AFIC, the two children have Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart condition. Their treatment plan involves multiple surgeries, with the initial phase scheduled to begin soon. 

Brigadier Dr Khurram Akhtar emphasised that AFIC is well-equipped to handle complex pediatric cardiac cases, meeting international standards. 

He asserted that sending such cases abroad was unnecessary, citing AFIC's successful surgical track record.