Paramedics staged a 'sit-in' outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly, and blocked main shershah suri road, against the non-implementation of their charter of demands. The protesting paramedics were headed by provincial chairman of Paramedics Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sirajuddin Barki, President Johar Ali, general secretary Syed Roidad Shah, along with scores of Para-medics, and demanding the time-scale promotion, and health professional allowances, like extending to doctors community, and other incentives.
The motorists and general Public faced numerous difficulties due to closure of main shershah suri and Khyber Road for all kind of vehicular traffic. Talking to reporters, the association chairman said that the provincial government had agreed in-principal to give time-scale promotion to all paramedics' staffs, but it was using delaying tactics in honouring the commitment. He said the government attitude was created great unrest among the paramedics' staffs and took to street in protest.
Our demands are legitimate, then why the government would take serious steps to give them practical shape, says Roidad Shah. He warned if the government would not accept their demands within a week, then they would start phase-wide protest movement across the province.
For the agitation campaign, Barki said two committee have been constituted, which has been given right to hold negotiation with government and health authorities, and would take strike decision as last resort. According to protest schedule, he said a strike would be started in all major teaching hospitals for indefinite period from September 15, which will continue to written proven of acceptance demands. The association chairman said the emergency cover will be available for patient in all hospitals during the protest drive. "If the negotiation would fail between government, health department and representatives of paramedics' staff, then the emergency would also be boycotted, Barki said.