26 December 2004	Sunday	13 Ziqa'ad 1425

PESHAWAR, Dec 25: The leaders and activists of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal are getting VIP treatment at the state-run hospitals, despite their claim of having done away with the VIP culture under their rule in the Frontier province.

"A provincial minister has been admitted at the VVIP Room No 1 at the Khyber Teaching Hospital on Dec 18. Being a minister, he is entitled to get a free private room, but he has also occupied two additional rooms: VIP No 2 and 4 for his guests", a doctor told Dawn on condition of anynomity.

According to him, several senior consultants of the ENT and surgery departments visit the minister day and night, while the people are denied their right to be admitted even to general ward unless they visit private clinics of the consultants.

A technician said that seven months ago, the father of a senior minister was admitted to a VIP room and he was operated upon the following morning.

"One room was occupied by the patient and three others were reserved for guests and attendants. Officials of the administration remained there round the clock to ensure the best possible services to the minister's father," he said.

Likewise, an MMA activist from Charsadda got VIP facilities in the orthopaedic ward of a city hospital. Doctors said that he had been brought to the ward five months ago and Maulana Fazlur Rehman had visited him the following day. "He was not entitled to the facilities that were provided to him", a doctor said.

PROTEST: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Friday observed a protest dayhere against the deletion of the religious column from machine readable passport.

Workers of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) and Jamaat-i-Islami took out separate processions from Namak Mandi and Mohabat Khan mosque respectively and assembled at Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

MNAs Shabir Ahmad Khan, Qari Fayazur Rehman Alvi and other leaders of the alliance led the rallies.