ABBOTTABAD: The Board of Governors of Ayub Medical Teaching Institution has suspended two employees for resorting to violence against the dean of the hospital and taking law into their hands.

A press release issued by the BoG here on Sunday said that culture of violence and aggression was not acceptable at any cost and strict action would be taken against anyone, who would be found involved in such activities.

It said that the office of Prof Umer Farooq, the dean and chief executive officer of the institution, was attacked when he issued show-cause notice to few doctors on the directives of provincial government during the last year’s strike by health workers against Regional and District health Authorities Act, 2019.

The dean sought explanation from the striking doctors but a mob attacked his office. Dr Khiyal Afridi incited violence against the dean and also provoked others, said the release.

The BoG formed a committee with Prof Arshad Zafar as its head to probe the incident. The committee submitted its report to the BoG after thorough inquiry. The BoG ordered suspension of Dr Khiyal Afridi and Firdoon Khan on the recommendation of the committee.

It merits a mention here that the administration of Ayub Teaching Hospital has complied with the recent notification of provincial government and cancelled action against the striking health workers. The salaries have been released to all the employees and the FIR registered under 3MPO against the health workers has been taken back. However, action has been taken against those, who were involved in the incident of violence.

Some of the employees allegedly involved in the incident have threatened to go on strike against suspension of their colleagues.

However, administrative staff and members of academic council including the vice dean, associate deans and chairpersons of all the departments have supported the decision of BoG. They have decided to stay away from any such strike. The release said that culture of violence was not acceptable in the institution at any cost.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2020