LARKANA, Sept 5: Police personnel, magistrates and private persons have occupied buildings of 14 taluka hospitals and basic health units in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts. Sources told Dawn on Monday that residential quarters and whole buildings of taluka hospitals in Mirokhan, Dokri and basic health units in Behram, Dokri, Moenjodaro, New Gud, Gaji Khuhawar, Wagan and Lashari had been occupied by police.

Police stations have been established inside them or buildings are housed by DSPs and SHOs.

Judicial magistrates and civil judges have also occupied three doctors’ bungalows in Mirokhan, Dokri and Shahdadkot taluka hospitals, the sources said.

“These buildings are in possession of police, magistrates and private persons since 1989 and some of them have been occupied just two years back” they said.

The district health office has written to the Sindh government about occupation of buildings and contacted local police officials but in vain.

The entire building of the Basic Health Unit in Gaibidero, the ancestral village of Nawab Shabbir Ahmed Chandio, nazim candidate for Qambar-Shahdadkot district, has been occupied by influential people of the area.

DO health Dr Khalil Katpar said despite repeated contacts, authorities concerned had not vacated the building.

He said a building of government dispensary, Ketti Mumtaz, had been vacated and dispensary was made functional.

The need is to vacating these buildings for smooth running of health facilities, the health official said.

About 57 basic health units and government dispensaries in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts have been running without sanction of new expenditure that had hindered performance of health facilities.

These facilities are located in Larkana, Ratodero, Dokri, Qambar, Shahadkot and Warah talukas.

LB polls: The polling for election of a councillor on peasant seat in union council-9, Larkana, was held here on Monday.

The election for the seat was deferred after murder of Azhar Khokhar, Awam Dost Panel candidate for the slot.

People cast their vote at ten polling stations under tight security arrangements.

Nine contestants were in the run for the seat.