TIMERGARA: Landowners have demanded of the government to honour its commitment of making payments of land acquired for the proposed Sanam Dam in Adenzai as per the market rate, or allocate suitable land for the affected people. They threatened to launch a protest campaign if the government failed to keep its word.

Speaking at a news conference at the Chakdara Press Club on Monday, landowners and elders of Asbanr, including Tufail Ahmad, Jehan Pervez, Fazal Wahab, Zairullah, Akhtar Munir and others, complained that the government had failed to fulfill its promise regarding payment of compensation according to the market rate.

They said the land acquired for construction of the dam had been the only source of living for their families, and warned to resist the construction of the water reservoir if their demand was not met.

They demanded of the government, high ups of irrigation department and small dams to either give them market rate of their landed properties or allocate alternative land for them.

DOCTORS’ STRIKE: The doctors continued their strike for the sixth consecutive day on Monday to protest torture of a doctor in Peshawar by the guards of the provincial health minister and the government’s plan to privatise the hospitals. All out-patient departments, private clinics and hospitals except emergency cover remained closed to the suffering of patients.

Addressing the doctors and paramedics at their protest camp, Young Doctors Association leader Dr Nadar Khan and others said they won’t let the government privatise public sector hospitals in the garb of health reforms. They said the government should take them into confidence before deciding their future.

Meanwhile, district president of paramedics association, Mohammad Rahim, has welcomed the government offer of talks to the protesting doctors. Talking to journalists, he said patients were suffering because of doctors’ strike. He said the government should show sincerity and resolve the issue soon.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2019