Hospitals to observe two-hour token strike today

Islamabad : All government hospitals of Islamabad will observe a two-hour token strike today (Thursday) to express solidarity with health professionals of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), which was targeted by an unruly mob of lawyers in Lahore on Wednesday.

“The All Employees PIMS Restoration Movement (AEPRM) strongly condemns the terrorist attack carried out at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology by so-called lawyers. We stand by our brothers and sisters at PIC at this crucial moment, and condemn the criminal negligence of the Punjab government, which failed to extend security to health professionals in the province,” AEPRM’s spokesman Dr. Asfandyar stated.

Demanding the arrest of culprits involved in the incident and resignations of IG Police and Health Minister of Punjab, Dr. Asfandyar announced that there will be a two-hour token strike from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as well as rallies in PIMS and all other government hospitals of Islamabad to express solidarity with their counterparts in Punjab.

Talking to this scribe, Dr. Asfandyar said, a strategy will be devised to secure protection of doctors and other hospital employees as it has become impossible for them to function and save lives in an environment where their own lives are at risk. He lamented that there is zero security for health professionals, patients, and hospital attendants, and quoted the PIC episode as a living example of how conveniently they can be targeted. Dr. Asfandyar was also reminded of the targeted killing of Dr. Shahid Nawaz and a nurse within PIMS premises several years ago.

Terming it ‘a Black Day,’ Dr. Asfandyar castigated the government and the police for acting as silent spectators while lawyers indulged in “acts of terrorism.” He insisted that action be taken against those who miserably failed to uphold their image as custodians of the law. “Our ultimate demand will be the passage of a security bill for hospitals from the National Assembly,” Dr. Asfandyar added.