KARACHI, May 25: The dispute between the employees and the management of the Liaquat National Hospital continues amid reports that the staff may go on strike for their demands.

The problem had aggravated after the alleged beating of two staff members by a senior officer with the help of private security personnel last month. The management has also been accused of harassing the staff, particularly female nurses.

Twenty one employees have been behind the bars for the last two weeks for allegedly disturbing the functioning of the hospital, while the services of forty-seven employees have been terminated.

The LNH Employees Welfare Association has been demanding reinstatement of those terminated and withdrawal of show-cause notices to dozens of the workers. The Association says that instead of redressing genuine grievances and ensure a better working atmosphere, the LNH bosses have resorted to all kind of anti-worker tactics which include obstructing the release of the workers in the Landhi Jail.

“We reject the privatisation of the LNH and demand the revival of the LNH Trust in the best interest of the hospital, the employees and the people,” the Association’s senior official, Zahir Rehman, said.—APP