BATTAGRAM: The residents of Kuzabanda area have demanded of the government to ensure availability of doctors in the local rural health centre (RHC).

They threatened to launch a protest if government failed to accept their demand.

Local elders including Saeed Ahmed Malkal, Israrullah Jan and Faiz Mohammad along with youth and traders told journalists that government was spending million of rupees monthly on the Kuzabanda RHC but it is not providing even basic services to people.

They said that people of three union councils including Banian, Trand and Kuzabanda were relying on the RHC but not a single doctor was available there manage emergency cases. They said that they were forced to take their patients district headquarters hospital.

They demanded of government to fill the vacant posts of doctor and other health workers at the earliest. They threatened to take to streets if government failed to accept their demands.

FIRING: The residents of Deshan area have asked police to take action against the people involved in firing in the air during wedding ceremonies and other functions.

They said that a teenager in Shingli Paen area was killed when a stray bullet hit him at his home.

Local elders including Maulana Khurshid Ahmed, Ihsan Khan, Junaid Khan and other residents of Deshan asked people to refrain firing in the air as stray bullet could take someone’s life.

“Our religion also prohibits such acts. Such acts can harm innocent people around us,” they said and asked police to take strict action against the elements involved in firing in the air during functions and celebrations.

The elders said that it was prime responsibility of police to save lives of people. They said that in the past police department used to take action against celebratory firing but for the past few months it seemed reluctant to take action against the violators of law.

They asked police to launch a crackdown on violators of law as the locals could not afford to see another teenager killed by a stray bullet.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2023