HYDERABAD: A group of paramedics, doctors and nurses took out a procession from Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) to Radio Pakistan on Wednesday in protest against news reports published in Dawn about irregularities in the hospital’s affairs and alleged corruption by its director of administration.

Members of Sindh People’s Paramedics, Young Doctors Association (YDA), paramedics and their sympathisers participated in the protest which was led by Dr Shaukat Lakho, Dr Mujeeb Kalwar, Dr Mohammad Ali Kaimkhani and others.

They protesters had earlier hung banners in various parts of the city and on the LUH premises against Dawn’s correspondent.

The protesters’ leaders said that the LUH had made visible progress over the years and the propaganda against it should stop now. LUH director administration Abdul Sattar Jatoi’s viewpoint was not incorporated in the news reports, they alleged. A group of doctors associated with YDA later met the journalist and clarified their position.

Civil society, parties condemn move against Dawn

Smear campaign slammed

Meanwhile, leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pak Sarzameen Party, PML-F, Awami Workers Party, Awami Tehreek, Women Action Forum, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Sindh Abadgar Board and Sindh Chamber of Agriculture expressed solidarity with the journalist and termed the campaign against him an attack on freedom of press.

People from all stratas of society have expressed solidarity with Dawn reporter and condemned vilification campaign launched against him on social media by some corrupt elements in Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) whose crimes he had exposed through his stories.

In a joint statement issued here on Wednesday, leaders of Hyderabad Press Club and Hyderabad Union of Journalists demanded the Sindh government should make sure no harm came to the journalist as threatening language had been used against him on social media by doctors, paramedics and some private persons after the reporter pointed out corruption and irregularities in the LUH.

They said the vilification campaign had been launched at the instigation of a non-cadre officer of health department, who was holding a cadre post in LUH in violation of the orders of Supreme Court and Sindh High Court.

They said that bullying a journalist in any manner whatsoever was tantamount to denying him right to write and curbing freedom of the press.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2022