Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shaukat Ali Yousafzai has warned the protesting doctors against forcibly closing OPDs from tomorrow. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the minister said that the government would open the OPDs from today (Saturday) so that the people could not suffer. He said that the government would provide security to the doctors in OPDs, warning that if anyone tried to stop services at OPDs by force, action would be taken against him.
The Minister said that the doctors have right to protest, but they would not be allowed to create disturbance in the hospitals. But, he said patients are suffering due to the strike and made it clear to the doctors that no one can stop the PTI government from reforming the health sector of the province.
Shaukat Yousafzai said that the government has prepared a list of the trouble-makers and show cause notices have been issued to them. He said that the government is still ready for talks with the doctors for solution to the current issue.
Meanwhile, despite threat of action by the provincial government, the doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued their strike against torture of an associate professor by health minister and his guards for the third consecutive day across the province.
On the call of doctors' council, the doctors have boycotted the OPDs, creating difficulties for the patients. The protesting doctors are demanding resignations of the health minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan, who had alleged to have tortured associate professor Dr Zaiuddin Afridi at KTH.
The government has also offered talks to the protesting doctors, but they are demanding resignation of the provincial health minister. It is pertinent mention here that Professor Nowsherwan Barki, who is considered close to Prime Minister Imran Khan, was presiding over a meeting in Peshawar on Tuesday when Dr Ziauddin opened the door of the meeting hall and started complaining about not being appointed as an associate professor at the Khyber Medical College. Dr Ziauddin also allegedly threw eggs on Dr Barki after which police took Dr Ziauddin outside the meeting room. Provincial Minister Hasham Inamullah reached there after an hour on the request of Dr Barki and held meeting with the hospital administration. Doctors exchanged harsh words with the minister during talks and then a scuffle started. The minister's guards came from behind and allegedly tortured Dr Ziauddin due to which he received injuries in head and neck. An FIR was also field against Dr Ziauddin on charges of throwing eggs on Dr Barki.
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