SWABI: Awami National Party on Friday asked the government to withdraw the decision to convert the District Headquarters Hospital into Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) within a week or the party would mobilise people against it. The decision was made at a meeting presided over by the ANP Swabi president Asifur Rehman.

It was decided that meetings would be held with leaders of other political parties, groups and unions of workers to thwart the government bid, which they insisted would make the healthcare costly for the poor.

Speaking on the occasion, ANP former general secretary Salim Khan Advocate said the party would never allow the hospital’s conversation to MTI.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government made hue and cry about provision of adequate health facilities to the people, but was now trying to ‘deprive’ them of the major health facility in the district.

On the occasion, Asifur Rehman claimed that other MTIs in the province had failed to serve the purpose for which they had been established. Nawabzada, ANP district general secretary, urged all the political parties and people to fully oppose the MTI decision.

TWO KILLED: Two persons were shot dead in separate incidents here on Friday, the police said. City police station officials said Alamgir Khan, who hailed from Topi city, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at the Safdar Chowk.

In another incident, Bilal Khan, a resident of Tarakai village, was killed by rivals.

Kalu Khan police station officials said they registered an FIR into the case and started an investigation.

Meanwhile, a resident, Zeeshan Khan, was critically injured when he put up resistance to a robbery attempt near Panjpir route. He was taken to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahmansoor.

The police registered a case against unidentified robbers.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2025