October 28, 2008	Tuesday	Shawwal 28, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 27: The Lyari Town administration and the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) have demanded immediate deployment of Rangers and police personnel at the Lyari General Hospital to ensure safety and security of the hospital staff, patients and visitors amid worsening law and order situation in the area.

PMA General-Secretary Dr Azizur Rahman Soomro has said the deployment of Rangers and police personnel has become necessary as medical staff has been receiving threat of kidnapping from the gangsters operating in the area.

“Doctors, nurses and other staff members of the Lyari General Hospital are being victimised and threatened by Lyari gangsters and if the government failed to provide them protection, they would be compelled to go on strike,” Dr Soomro said.

He recalled that the gangsters had tried to kidnap some doctors, nurses and midwives, and regretted that the government has so far failed to take the matter seriously. “How can they perform their duties in an environment of fear?” he questioned.

Acting nazim of Lyari Town Mahmood Hashim said that although the gang warfare had subsided, incidents of clashes between rival criminal groups were still taking place. “Lyari General Hospital staff will continue to be affected until the gangsters are there in the town,” he said, asserting that deploying Rangers and police at the hospital was the only way to ensure peace and security.

Mr Hashim said that a board had been set up to review the uplift projects and security plan concerning the Lyari General Hospital and submit its recommendations. “I am also a member of this board, which will recommend a strict policy to be adopted by the government to control crime in Lyari,” he said.

Referring to the insecurity at the hospital, he remarked that some corrupt personnel of the hospital were also responsible for it.

Meanwhile, some LGH doctors have stated that hospital staff receiving threats and incidents of firing within the vicinity of the hospital had become a daily routine.

They said that such incidents took place when an injured criminal was brought to the hospital for treatment. “While the patient is accompanied by his armed associates, his rival gangsters would follow them into the hospital and challenge them. Not only they indulge in an armed clash but also subject the hospital staff to threats,” they moaned.

According to the doctors, many hospital employees have sought leave for an indefinite period due to the situation. “Mostly, paramedics would avoid coming to hospital when a gangster is admitted, they said, adding that their absence would obviously affect the hospital’s working and all the other patients would ultimately have to suffer.

The doctors, on condition of anonymity, said that the gangsters accompanying their injured fellows also used to deprive the hospital staff of their cellphones and cash and would not hesitate to beat them up if they posed any resistance.

Their claim was supported by several patients who said that they and their attendants were also deprived of their cellphones and other belongings by the gangsters at the hospital.

There are as many as 20 guards posted at the hospital but they feel helpless and insecure as the gangsters possess more lethal and sophisticated weapons.—PPI