People take to streets against administration of DHQ Charsadda

Alleged corruption, mismanagement

CHARSADDA: The activists of political parties, traders, journalists and civil society members on Saturday staged a protest against the lack of facilities, shortage of staff and alleged corruption at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).

The protesters gathered outside the DHQ Hospital and blocked the Charsadda-Peshawar road for traffic.

Activists of Pakistan People’s Party, Awami National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, National Youth Organisation, lawyers, traders and shopkeepers,  journalists, local government representatives, civil society members and people from various walks of life participated in the protest rally.

The protesters chanted slogans against the alleged anomalies, lack of staff and health facilities at the hospital.

The speakers said that the dialysis machine at the facility was rusting due to lack of doctors and technicians. They said that the hospital was being provided millions of rupees, but the funds were misappropriated instead of providing relief to the patients.

They suggested to the government to rent out the hospital building for commercial activities and spend the money on the welfare of the people of Charsadda as the hospital was of no use to them.

They announced to launch a protest campaign against the medical superintendent and lack of healthcare facilities at the hospital after Eidul Fitr.

Earlier, addressing the protesters in Tehsil Municipal Administration office here, a former president of the Charsadda Press Club Sartaj Khan criticised the Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Ali for damaging the cameras and taking journalists hostage at the hospital. He alleged that the MS misbehaved with the journalists and threatened them with dire consequences during their visit to the facility.