LAKKI MARWAT: Cattle traders held a demonstration at the Miryakhel cattle market in Bannu on Sunday to protest the killing of a colleague allegedly by the police in the Lakki Marwat district.

The protesters, who gathered in the market in the morning, demanded withdrawal of a terrorism-related case registered against the deceased trader and a transparent probe into the incident.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik Dil Faraz Khan, Akbar Nawaz Khan, Munawar Khan, Saadullah and others claimed that a few days ago, the Serai Gambila police of Lakki had allegedly killed a cattle trader, Asif Ali and later declared him a terrorist.

They said the deceased and his father, Abdul Sattar, would come to the market for business purposes daily.

Demand withdrawal of case against deceased, probe into incident

A trader said that on the night of Dec 23, Asif Ali was returning to his Mandan Manjiwala village on a motorcycle after watching a kabaddi match when the police signalled him to stop.

“This scared Asif, who speeded up the bike prompting the cops to chase and shoot him dead,” he said.

The traders said the killing also sparked protests in Lakki Marwat.

The cattle traders asked the provincial police authorities to order a thorough probe into the killing and withdrawal of an FIR lodged against him under different sections of Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code.

DOCTORS’ SHORTAGE: Shortage of doctors in public sector hospitals is badly impacting the healthcare delivery in rural localities of Lakki Marwat as more than two dozen basic health units are running without physicians, claimed a health staffer during the oath-taking ceremony of the paramedical staff association on Sunday.

Former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA the party’s and provincial deputy general secretary Malik Noor Saleem Khan, former district councillor Fawad Ahmad Khan, deputy district health officer Dr Tauqeer, Government City Hospital medical superintendent Dr Kifayat Bitanni, elders and paramedics were in attendance.

Mr Saleem administered oath to the newly-elected president of the association, Farifullah Khan, senior vice-president Khairullah, general secretary Ali Amin Shah and other office-bearers.

On the occasion, the association’s provincial general secretary Luqman Gul said paramedics had a key role to play in the provision of healthcare services to the ailing community.

“Though the health facilities are faced with shortage of doctors the service delivery does not get hampered due to presence of paramedics,” he said, and demanded of the government to allow paramedics to carry out private practice in rural areas after duty hours.

The former lawmaker said as the chief minister belonged to the southern region and he was focused on bringing sustainable development to this neglected part of the province.

Mr Salim asked the paramedics to perform their professional obligations honestly and dedicate themselves to serving the ailing people.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024