Ten injured as police baton charge protesting doctors at LRH

• Medical professionals were protesting against the privatisation of government facilities
• YDA official says police nabbed more than 15 protesters
• SSP claims more than six policemen were injured as protesters pelted stones on the police team

(Karachi) At least 10 doctors suffered injuries after the police resorted to tear shelling and launched a baton charge at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday. The medical professionals were protesting against the privatisation of government facilities in the province.

Young Doctors Association (YDA) spokesperson Dr Izhar said that the association’s chairman Dr Zubair was critically injured during the incident, while YDA president Dr Rizwan Kundi’s arm was fractured. He maintained the police used force to stop the peaceful protest that led to brutal injuries.

He mentioned that the police nabbed more than 15 protesters, including paramedics and female nurses.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operation) Zahoor Babar Afridi said that the police was compelled to use force in order to control the situation. He claimed that more than six police officers were injured as the protesting doctors pelted stones on the police team. The SSP added that the police rounded up 13 protesters, while legal proceedings against them were under way.