CHARSADDA: The death of a Class-IV employee at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Tangi, triggered a protest by members of the Christian community here on Wednesday, with demonstrators placing the body at Farooq Azam Chowk and blocking traffic for several hours.
The protesters ended their sit-in and reopened the road after the deputy commissioner ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured them that a report would be submitted within seven days.
The deceased, identified as Khurram Iqbal, was working as a sweeper at the Tangi hospital. His family and members of the Christian community alleged that he had been forced to perform tree-pruning work beyond his assigned duties and suffered fatal injuries after falling from a tree.
The protesters demanded action against Tangi THQ Hospital medical superintendent Dr Amin Khattak and called for his suspension. The protesters said they would not remove the body or end the protest until action was taken against the hospital’s medical superintendent. They also blocked roads around Farooq Azam Chowk.
Dr Amin Khattak rejected the allegations that Iqbal had not fallen from a tree and claimed that he collapsed in the hospital lawn after suffering a medical emergency.
According to the medical superintendent, a CT scan conducted in Peshawar indicated that he had suffered a stroke and also had a heart condition. He said Iqbal’s duty hours were from 8pm to 8am, while his health deteriorated at around 9.30am.
Following the protest, deputy commissioner Fazal Rahim Marwat took notice of the matter and sent Charsadda assistant commissioner Waqas Rehman Afridi to negotiate with the protesters.
The talks eventually succeeded, following which the protesters removed the body and reopened the road.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026