LAKKI MARWAT: Hundreds of patients from urban and rural localities of Lakki Marwat suffered as doctors and paramedics on Saturday boycotted duties in the outpatient department (OPD) in public sector hospitals to protest registration of an FIR against two doctors of the government city hospital.

The private clinics and health facilities also remained closed.

On Jan 20, three people, including a passerby, were killed when they were attacked by armed men in Baghban locality of the Lakki city.

Two other passersby who had sustained injuries in the incident later died in the city hospital. Relatives of the deceased had protested absence of doctors at the emergency department when injured men were brought there, and demanded registration of case against the negligent doctors.

Later, the police booked Dr Zakir and Dr Abdul Wahid Zakori on the complaint of Hamayun Khan, a brother of one of the deceased, Jehangir Khan.

Lakki deputy commissioner Abdul Haseeb had also formed a committee to probe the matter.

Protesters demand withdrawal of FIR against colleagues

The doctors and paramedics rejected the inquiry committee and registration of FIR against doctors, and went on a strike on the call of the Grand Health Alliance.

However, the doctors provided services in the emergency department and the labour room.

A relative of a patient said there was no justification for boycotting OPD duties by doctors.

He said the doctors should fight a legal battle instead of refusing to provide medical care to ailing people.

Malik Tariq Sardar, an office-bearer of the Grand Health Alliance, asked the government to withdraw the FIR against doctors.

“No doctor or health staffer was absent from duty when injured men of the firing incident were brought to the city hospital,” he claimed, adding some mischievous minded individuals provoked the relatives of the deceased against doctors.

He said the city hospital’s medical superintendent had sent an application of doctors to the SHO Lakki Marwat police station for registration of an FIR against one Hammad and his companions.

CLASH AVERTED: Local elders averted a clash between the police and the participants of a wedding party in Meryan gate area in Bannu city on Saturday.

According to reports, a police party intercepted a vehicle carrying a wedding party near Meryan gate and arrested a man along with a pistol. However, people in the marriage procession got infuriated over the arrest and blocked the road.

Some protesters said the police arrested their relative who had a licensed weapon, and demanded his immediate release to reopen the road. However, the local elders intervened and got the road reopened by resolving the issue amicably.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2021