KARACHI, Nov 18: An Edhi centre booth situated at Civil Hospital was set on fire by unknown persons on Thursday. "Some unknown suspects threw some chemical on the wooden booth which set it on fire.
A wireless set and Rs 4,500 cash also turned to ashes", said an official of the Edhi Foundation.
Similarly, in charge of the Edhi Ambulance Service at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Waseem was kidnapped and subjected to torture by armed suspects on Thursday. He was later dumped in DHA.
Recalling an incident of intimidation a day before Eid, a senior official of the foundation said that Waseem was threatened by some persons, who wanted that the centre should wind up its ambulance service at the hospital.
The official also recalled a similar incident of intimidation which occurred at Civil Hospital before Ramazan.
He said that the in-charge of the ambulance service at CHK was threatened of dire consequences, if ambulance service was not suspended.
An application in this connection was submitted to the TPO Saddar. The application also identified suspects involved in this campaign, the official added.
Another official of the Edhi Foundation said in these circumstances, the Edhi centre staff was avoiding performing duties at these two major public sector hospitals.
In a press release, the Edhi Foundation urged the government to provide protection to its workers at the two major hospitals.
"Identifying themselves as workers of an ethnic party, the armed suspects also threatened the staff, saying if the ambulances service was not suspended in the city, bodies of Faisal Edhi and Abdul Sattar Edhi would be found in gunny bags," the press release added.
Recently, the Edhi Foundation had further lowered its ambulances charges, especially in two major hospitals. Transportation of patients within the hospital premises is being carried out free of cost, the press release added.
