SWABI: Paramedics of the District Headquarters Hospital, Swabi, organised a protest camp on Saturday to demand transfer of the medical superintendent for opening evening OPD without consulting them and his alleged interference in their affairs.

The employees wore black armbands and vowed to continue their struggle till the MS was transferred. Women staffers also participated in the protest.

The paramedics had given the government until May 24 to post out the MS, and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Swabi tehsil president Jehanzeb Khan had promised doing so within a week.

When contacted, Mr Jehanzeb told Dawn that the tug-of-war between the employees and the MS had affected the smooth functioning of the major health facility of the district.

Fateh Ali, president of the paramedics’ association, accused the MS of meddling in the employees’ work.

When contacted, MS Dr Noorul Islam told Dawn that he ensured the employees performed their duties diligently, and this didn’t amount to interference in their affairs.

He said he had started evening OPD for facilitation of the patients, but the employees opposed it. He showed an application signed by various doctors opposing the morning OPD.

Meanwhile, patients said they suffered due to continued tussle between the employees and the MS, and demanded that the tiff should be resolved in the best interest of the ailing community as early as possible.

LOADSHEDDING: PTI Swabi president Sohail Yousafzai on Saturday appealed to the party leaders and workers to participate in large numbers in the planned protest of Swabi Action Committee (SAC) to be held on Tuesday here to press government for ending loadshedding in the district.

“The people of Swabi should get electricity at discounted rates for sacrificing their lands for construction of the Tarbela Dam’s powerhouse here,” he said.

Salim Advocate, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party, who heads the SAC, said that they were peaceful people and wanted a peaceful solution to the problem.

“Local people have made sacrifices and are still rendering sacrifices, but despite this, the entire district faces excessive loadshedding and people are not getting electricity at subsidised rates as promised,” he regretted.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2024