SWABI: The lady health workers (LHWs) defied Section 144 and staged a rally here on Wednesday to seek increase in salaries and reward for extra duty.

They gathered at Karnal Sher Khan Chowk and protested there for some time. The protesters then moved to the office of assistant commissioner, Dr Eizza Arshad, who had already called the officials of health department to her office.

The assistant commissioner and focal person for Covid-19 in the district Dr Waqar held negotiations with the leaders of the protesting LHWs, led by Rifasat Qamar.

Dr Waqar told the LHW leaders that the task assigned to them should be accomplished and delaying tactics must be avoided. However, the leaders of the protesters said that special tasks were assigned to them in addition to their official duty. They said that the district health officer should pay them for their extra task.

The LHWs said that they did not receive their monthly salary timely. They also demanded increase in pay at par with the ratio of inflation.

They alleged that the amount allocated for special assignments, performed by them, went to the pockets of other officials. They said that nobody was ready to pay heed to their demands that forced them to stage the protest.

The protesters moved back to the square after failure of talks with the officials. They blocked all the four roads conjoining at the square. Police handled the situation politely and did not allow anyone to remove the protesting women forcibly.

After more than an hour, the assistant commissioner again held talks with the protesters and assured them that she would talk to health secretary to resolve their issues. After the assurance, the LHWs ended their protest.

ARREST: Police claimed to have arrested three smugglers and recovered more than six 6 kilograms of charas from their possession.

Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate SHO Muntazar Khan said that they foiled a bid to smuggle charas to Punjab through a motorcycle and arrested Asif Iqbal and Nadeem Khan.

He said that 340 grams of ice and 470 grams of similar contraband were recovered from them, respectively. He said 4,270 grams of chars were also recovered from the secret cavities of their motorcycle.

Police also arrested Fazal Haq in Topi and 2,110 grams of charas and 380 grams of ice from him.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2023