Advocate Arooj Fatima told reporters at the National Press Club Islamabad that six-year-old Zunayshia Ameerjan lost her life following apparent medical negligence at a private hospital located in a well-known Rawalpindi housing society. The child was taken in for a minor throat operation and went into the operating theatre smiling, but did not return alive.
Speaking alongside Zunayshia’s mother Anam Ameer, her uncle and other relatives, Advocate Arooj Fatima said the family had been assured a qualified anaesthetist would be present for the procedure. It later emerged that the anaesthesia was administered by a person who was not a qualified anaesthetist, and the advocates allege this lapse in care and professional oversight contributed directly to the tragedy.
The family has called on the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Punjab to intervene and ensure a full, transparent investigation so that justice is served. Advocate Arooj Fatima demanded strict action against the hospital and the individuals responsible, arguing that accountability is necessary to prevent future cases of medical negligence in private healthcare facilities.
Relatives described Zunayshia as a cheerful six-year-old who went for a routine procedure and never came home. They urged authorities to take immediate steps to verify professional credentials at private hospitals and to tighten oversight to protect patients, especially children, from avoidable harm caused by negligence.
The family and their legal counsel have made clear they will pursue all available legal remedies to secure redress and to press for systemic changes that ensure qualified staff are present for surgical procedures. Calls for justice and accountability for the hospital and medical staff remain central as the case moves forward.
