SHANGLA: Work on the construction of rural health centre in Makhozi area of Puran tehsil, which was destroyed in the October 2005 earthquake, is still incomplete, in-charge of the hospital, Dr Iftikhar Ahmed, complained on Sunday.

Talking to Dawn, he said the building was demolished by Erra after 2005 earthquake and work on it was started in 2010, but the contractor left it after carrying out work for only six months.

Dr Ahmed said three medics were not attending to their duty as they were influential people. He said the employees had hired private people to perform duty in their place. He said he had frequently complained to the district health office, but no response came.

“The RHC’s laboratory is well equipped but it remains closed due to absence of staff,” he said, adding the health department should investigate the matter. He said due to lack of a proper building, the makeshift facility was set up on a private land, but the landowner threatened to get the land vacated.

The doctor said life saving drugs and injections were not available at the health facility.

A resident of Chawga, Mohammad Hanif, told Dawn that they had been staging protests for completion of work on the health centre, but to no avail. He said except a doctor, the makeshift hospital had no equipment or paramedics.

Adnan Alam, another local, said the laboratory at the RHC remained closed and the lab technician ran a private lab just across from the hospital. “I paid Rs280 for a lab test at a private hospital for a patient,” he said, complaining there were also no medicines available at the RHC.

Habib Ullah, member district council from Chawga, said they raised the issue several times in the district council and also with the local MNA, but to no effect.

He said the contractor abandoned the work on the RHC due to lack of funds.

Despite repeated attempts the DHO could not be contacted for his version on the issue.

CHIEF JUSTICE VISITS SHANGLA: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel has said that a judicial complex and district prison would soon be set up in Shangla.

This he stated during a visit to district bar room Shangla here on Saturday. PHC Swat bench judge Justice Mohammad Younas Tayam was also present on the occasion.

The PHC chief justice said land had been allotted for the district judicial complex and prison and soon work on the projects would start. He condemned the suicide attack on lawyers in Mardan, and said the nation stood by the grief-stricken families.

He said soon a judge would be appointed to Kana tehsil. “I am aware about the issues of lawyers and will discuss it with the provincial government. All the demands of Shangla bar would be met on priority basis,” He promised.

Earlier, the District Bar Shangla President Jawad Ali Noor demanded increase in judges’ strength in Alpuri, appointment of a judge at Kana tehsil, construction of a judicial complex, a prison, and giving the perks and privileges to lower judicial staff as was the case with high court staff.

Published in Dawn September 5th, 2016