LAYYAH, Nov 1: Paramedics went on a token strike in protest against maltreatment of their colleague by the medical superintendent (MS) of the Layyah District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital on Thursday.

Eye witnesses say MS Muhammad Sadiq slapped peon Riaz Ahmed for his alleged negligence in discharging his duty.

Dr Sadiq was inspecting the hospital when he found Riaz not present outside the office of Dr Samiullah Tangwani. This infuriated the MS and he called Riaz, who was inside the office, and slapped him in the presence of Dr Tangwani and a number of patients. Riaz says he was inside the office to help Dr Tangwani.

This angered the paramedics and they observed one-hour token strike.

Paramedical Staff Association District President Ehsanullah Sayal said this was the third time the MS had maltreated the staff in the last 15 days. He said earlier the MS had physically assaulted sweeper Manzoor and ward servant Kausar Parveen.

Ghulam Qasim, paramedical staff president of the DHQ hospital, said they would observe a token strike for two days and then a complete strike till the MS was transferred.

MS Sadiq said he had to take the extreme step of punishing negligent staff to improve the performance of paramedics.

Human rights activist Mustafa Juni condemned the inhuman behaviour of Dr Sadiq and demanded that the chief justice of Pakistan take suo motu action against the rude boss of the district hospital for converting the medical facility into a torture cell.