A patient admitted to the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) in Lahore drove an ambulance out of the facility and reached another hospital, where he falsely identified himself as a senior administrative official. The incident was reported on March 27, 2026, and prompted immediate action from hospital authorities and law enforcement.
The individual, identified as a 52-year-old male patient named Rehanul Haq, had been undergoing psychiatric treatment at PIMH since 2022. Officials confirmed that he was admitted to a specialized ward for ongoing mental health care at the time of the incident.
The incident began at PIMH in Lahore, Pakistan, and concluded at Government Shahdara Teaching Hospital, located approximately 14–15 kilometres away. The sequence of events unfolded on the morning of March 27, 2026.
According to Dawn, the patient managed to leave the hospital premises in an unattended ambulance.
According to hospital sources, the patient gained access to an official ambulance and drove it out of the institute premises. He then arrived at Shahdara Hospital and introduced himself as the newly appointed medical superintendent (MS), stating that he had come to assume charge.
Hospital staff initially interacted with him based on his confident communication and use of formal administrative language. However, doubts arose when there was no prior official communication regarding any leadership change.
As reported in Moneycontrol, Dr. Nauman Mazhar of PIMH said.
Upon reaching Shahdara Hospital, he introduced himself as the new medical superintendent (MS) of the (PIMH). The officials of Shahdara Hospital got confused as they were not informed about the arrival of the new MS.Dr. Nauman Mazhar, PIMH
NewsDrum reported that he even attempted to issue verbal instructions to hospital staff, further reinforcing his assumed authority before suspicion arose.
During routine verification, hospital staff noticed that the ambulance and the individual’s clothing were marked with “PIMH.” This prompted them to contact the mental health institute. Authorities at PIMH confirmed that an ambulance and a patient were missing, leading to immediate police involvement.
Police officials reported receiving an alert around 9:40 am regarding the unauthorized removal of a hospital vehicle. The patient was subsequently taken into custody at Shahdara Hospital without any reported injuries or damage.
His way of talking and tone were similar to those of a qualified and professional official. A senior administrator contacted the administration of PIMH over an abrupt change of MS. The situation became clear when the dress of the new MS bore the initials 'PIMH'. The administrator then told the PIMH staff about the initials of PIMH on his dress, which confirmed that he is a 'missing patient' of the institute.Dr. Nauman Mazhar, PIMH
Preliminary findings indicated that multiple ambulances had exited the PIMH premises around the same time. While two vehicles were later accounted for in different parts of the city, the third was the one driven by the patient.
The fact that the patient was able to leave the facility, access a vehicle, and travel across the city without interruption has raised concerns about monitoring systems within the institute.
As reported in Moneycontrol, Police officer Mohammad Nasir said,
Given the prevailing security situation in Lahore, which is currently hosting Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches and international players, the report triggered high alert across Lahore. During the investigation, police reviewed records showing that three ambulances had left PIMH. Two were later traced moving towards Shadman, while the route of the third was detected on The Mall Road, Lahore.Mohammad Nasir, Police officer
Police further confirmed that CCTV footage and route tracking were used to trace the ambulance’s movement across key city roads, including The Mall.
The patient has been safely recovered, and no casualties or property damage have been reported. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that allowed the incident to occur, with a focus on strengthening institutional safeguards.
Officials at PIMH have initiated an internal inquiry, and preliminary discussions are underway regarding stricter protocols for vehicle access, patient monitoring, and staff accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future.
(Rh/SS/MSM)