LAKKI MARWAT: The Grand Health Alliance has announced that the doctors and paramedics will call off the strike to resume outpatient services in Lakki Marwat hospitals only after the government accepts their demands.

The announcement comes as the doctors and paramedics boycotted duty in hospitals for the fourth consecutive day against the booking of their colleagues over the Jan 20 firing, which claimed five lives.

They didn’t examine patients in OPDs of hospitals and in private clinics across the district.

After the Jan 20 incident, the district administration had formed a committee to probe the alleged absence of doctors from duty and their alleged negligence.

The police also registered a murder case against Dr Zakir and Dr Abdul Waheed Zakori on the complaint of Hamayun Khan, brother of Jehangir Khan, who had died in the hospital.

On Monday, JUI-F MPA Munawar Khan Marwat met the GHA leaders at the district health offices in Lakki city to convince them about an end to the strike.

Accompanied by former district councillor Haji Amir Nawaz and JUI-F leader Maulana Ahmad Shah, he met arranged a meeting between GHA leaders and district administration’s officials on the matter.

The alliance leaders asked deputy commissioner Abdul Haseeb and additional deputy commissioner Anwar Sherani to accept their demands without delay for the resumption of outpatient services in hospitals.

The officials promised to consider their demands.

Alliance leader Dr Ibrahim demanded of the administration to intervene for the quashing of an FIR against two doctors of the Government City Hospital.

He also called for the deployment of police in hospitals for the security of doctors and health workers.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2021