MARDAN, Nov 20: Residents of Kuragh area on Sunday took to the streets to protest against the death of a woman in the district headquarters hospital Mardan due to alleged negligence of doctors.

The protesters demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident and exemplary punishment to the negligent doctors.

They also protested against the officials of city police station for not registering FIR against the doctors.

The protesters included family members of the victim and residents of Kuragh area led by a former union council nazim Mohammad Alam. They blocked the Shamsi road for all kind of traffic for long time and then held a demonstration in front of the Mardan Press Club.

The ex-nazim Mohammad Alam said the victim identified as Taj Bibi was brought by her son Akhtar Gul to the DHQ hospital in precarious condition as her blood pressure was very high.

The family members requested the doctors concerned identified as Dr Gul Rahim and Dr Aziz several times but doctors did not pay attention. As a result, she expired on the hospital premises. After her death, Akhtar Gul exchanged harsh words with the doctors upon which he was badly beaten by the hospital's staff as per the doctors' instructions and was also sent behind the bars by the city police station when the doctors called the police, added Mr Alam.

The protesters appealed to Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti to take serious notice of the incident and order an impartial inquiry in this regard and give exemplary punishment to the erring doctors.

They urged police high ups to set free the arrested son of the victim who also could not attend her mother's funeral prayer.

KARAK: The people of Tappi and Kanda areas of Karak blocked the Indus Highway on Sunday to protest against the non-provision of gas and non-construction of road to the areas. The protesters, including women, were carrying banners and placards and chanted slogans in favour of their demands.

Addressing the protesters, the speakers said gas facility had been provided to all suburban localities of Karak city but the people of Tappi and Kanda areas were deprived of the facility.

They said the elected representatives of Karak made tall claims and promises with the people with regard to provision of gas to the areas, but no practical work was initiated in this regard.

The speakers expressed resentment over the dilapidated condition of the road due to use of substandard material. Later, the protesters lifted the road blockade on the assurance of DSP headquarters Noor Mohammad Khattak that their genuine demands would be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf organised a rally in Karak city against corruption and lack of basic civic amenities on Sunday.

While addressing the protesters, PTI leader Shakeel Khattak said that rampant corruption in the government departments had caused irreparable damage to the country, adding a movement would be launched to root out corruption and corrupt practices in the district.