A mentally challenged patient from the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) created a significant disturbance on Thursday by driving one of the institute’s ambulances to the Government Shahdara Teaching Hospital while asserting that he had been appointed as the hospital’s new medical superintendent (MS).
The individual, identified as Rehanul Haq, approached senior hospital officials and insisted that the Punjab government had assigned him to head the facility. His confident use of medical terminology initially confused the administrators, prompting them to verify the supposed leadership change with higher authorities.
The situation was clarified when staff noticed that the visitor’s uniform bore the initials “PIMH.” Hospital officials promptly contacted the additional medical superintendent (AMS) of PIMH, who confirmed that Rehanul, a long-term patient admitted to the Special Medical Ward since 2022, had gone missing earlier that day along with an ambulance.
Police were notified of the incident at 9:40 a.m., with Sub-Inspector Mohammad Nasir arriving first at the scene. He noted that the theft of the ambulance had raised a city-wide alert, especially as Lahore was hosting Pakistan Super League matches and international visitors at the time.
Investigations revealed that three ambulances had departed from PIMH that morning. Two were later located near Shadman, while the third, driven by Rehanul, was tracked along The Mall route. Shahdara Teaching Hospital authorities confirmed the presence of the missing patient and ambulance at their facility and informed PIMH accordingly.
Officials expressed surprise that Rehanul managed to drive approximately 14 kilometres through busy Lahore streets without causing any accidents. The incident exposed serious security weaknesses at PIMH, particularly at the main gate, where protocols mandate verification of authorized drivers and registered vehicles used for patient transport.
In response, PIMH has established a four-member committee to investigate the security breach. Chaired by Prof Dr Nauman Mazhar and including AMS Dr Hanan Sarfraz, Dr Romana Ashfaq, and Dr Adeel Ayub, the panel will identify those responsible and suggest measures to prevent future incidents. Disciplinary action against negligent staff, especially those stationed at the main entrance during the event, is anticipated based on the inquiry’s conclusions.
Authorities have stressed that although the patient has been safely returned to custody, the episode highlights the urgent need for enhanced security protocols at mental health institutions to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
