Sherpao condemns baton-charge, arrest of doctors

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Monday condemned the police baton-charge against the doctors and paramedics in Quetta, who were protesting the unavailability of the personal protective equipment.

In a statement, he maintained that arresting and subjecting the doctors and paramedical staff to baton-charge was highly condemnable on the part of the government and it showed how serious the rulers were to contain the spread of the Covid-19.

Aftab Sherpao said that the doctors and the paramedical staff were at the frontlines to fight the coronavirus pandemic and the government should have provided them the personal protective equipment on an urgent basis instead of subjecting them to baton-charge and making the arrests. The QWP leader said that the doctors and the other health staff deserved appreciation at this critical juncture as they were the ones who were directly exposed to this highly contagious disease and despite risks to their lives they were performing duty diligently to treat the patients in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19.

He said that the government should immediately arrange the personal protective equipment for the doctors and the paramedics to prevent them from getting infected so that they could serve the ailing persons.

Aftab Sherpao demanded the government to release the arrested doctors forthwith and provide them the safety gears without wasting more time. Meanwhile, QWP provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao on Monday expressed concern over the non-availability and the rising prices of the food items in Chitral and other far-flung areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a statement, he demanded the government to ensure the sufficient supply of the necessary commodities in all parts of the province. He said that the government should provide relief to the people instead of making mere announcements.

Sikandar Sherpao said that the coronavirus lockdown had created a host of problems for the poor people, particularly the daily wagers and the labourers as they had been out-of-work and were yet to receive the promised relief from the authorities.