Paramedics stage sit-in at Sindh Secretariat

Over 300 paramedics belonging to various districts of Sindh, in the wake of their ongoing peaceful protest for approval of their service structure, on Monday staged a sit-in at Sindh Secretariat Karachi for three hours. Paramedical Joint Action Committee gave the protest call. Paramedics started to reach in the form of groups at Sindh Secretariat from morning and later they staged the sit-in.
They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans- Approve service structure, Restore son quota in appointments, privatisation of hospital rejected, let labourers of world united. Leaders of action committee also wore black armbands.
Soon after start of protest, police closed main gates leading to Sindh Secretariat, while police force including ladies were deputed at the spot that remained there till the end of protest.
Leaders of Paramedical Action Committee, Niaz Bhutto, Qayyum Marwat, Zakir Hussain, Raja Rafiq, Naeem Qureshi, Saleem Bhatti and others addressed the protest and reiterated they would not stop their campaign till approval of the service structure.
"Chief Minister had not fulfilled his promise despite passage of six months. If service structure was not approved we will lock all hospitals in Sindh from Kashmore to Karachi and government will be sole responsible for all results," they warned.
Addressing to paramedics and later talking to newsmen, Niaz Bhutto said all government employees had been given service structure, except the paramedics, who had been deprived of their legal right since last 57 years. " A paramedical employee retires in same grade, in which he was recruited. We are registering our protest at Sindh Secretariat and if our demands were not accepted, then 40,000 paramedics will lock all government hospitals in protest. We do not want to take this final step, but administration is compelling us to do it," he added.
"From Wednesday, we will observe only one-hour token strike daily in all hospitals of Sindh, so that the patients suffer least. We will organise a sit-in in front of Parliament House Islamabad on July 18, where paramedics from all over the country will join our protest," he announced.
Meanwhile, on request of Additional Secretary Technical (Health) Dr Abdul Majid, a team of paramedics led by Akhlaq Ahmed went to his office at Sindh Secretariat and held talks with him. Later, paramedical leaders along with Additional Secretary Technical and Additional Secretary Admin Riaz Memon came at the venue of protest.
Talking to newsmen, Dr Abdul Majid and Riaz Memon said service structure for paramedical staff was almost ready. "The only reason for its delay is that federal government has announced new pay scales for government employees and we are waiting to receive the order in writing. After which, we will forward summary to finance department for financial implications and finally will be submitted to the competent authority," they told.
"Secretary Health is out of country. After his arrival, which is expected till July 11, the summary will be finalised. Paramedical leaders have agreed on this summary and we have discussed in detail," they added.
Later, Sindh Finance Minister Sardar Ahmed also visited protesting paramedics and said he was never informed that summary of paramedical service structure was stopped at finance department. He assured paramedics of full support and asked their leaders to hold a meeting with him on Tuesday (today) at his office.
Meanwhile, some paramedical leaders alleged their vehicles were forcible stopped at various districts of Sindh and not allowed to leave for Karachi to participate in the protest.