Mental Patient Drives Ambulance to Hospital Claiming to Be New MS

A mentally challenged patient of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) stole an official ambulance and drove approximately 14 kilometres to the Government Shahdara Teaching Hospital on Thursday, claiming he had been appointed the new medical superintendent (MS).

The patient, identified as Rehanul Haq, who has been under treatment in PIMH’s Special Medical Ward since 2022, told hospital officials he had arrived to assume charge.

Staff initially mistook him for a legitimate official due to his confident tone and use of administrative terminology.

Authorities quickly realised the situation when they noticed his PIMH uniform. Police took Haq into custody, while PIMH confirmed the patient and ambulance had gone missing earlier in the day.

A four-member committee, led by Prof. Dr. Nauman Mazhar, has been formed to investigate the security lapse that allowed the patient to drive away undetected. The committee will hold security staff accountable and recommend measures to prevent future incidents.