ABBOTTABAD: Doctors at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital observed strike on the 3rd consecutive day on Tuesday against professional tax as no allied health services except emergency was provided at the health facility.
The angry doctors also staged a protest and threatened to expand their strike and block the main Karakoram Highway (KKH) if the provincial Health Department did not take steps to meet their demands.
Addressing the protesters, PDA President Dr Moazzam Khan, Dr Haroon-ur-Rashid and others criticised the imposition of unjustified professional tax on doctors and said that deduction has been made despite the fact that Peshawar High Court has already issued a stay order on the writ petition. It was nothing but the contempt of court, they added.
They added that Provincial Doctors Association President Dr Ameer Taj Khan had also brought the issue into the notice of secretary health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through a letter a few days back. The protesting doctors claimed that the provincial government had been getting Rs5000 as professional tax from grade 20 officers while the doctors were asked to deposit Rs50,000. The doctors demanded immediate withdrawal of unjustified professional tax on doctors.
Reports indicate that they tried to breach one of gates, harassed staff, and even scaled walls of premises
Nasir praised role of Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, who controlled situation with tolerance
A fierce exchange of fire ensued, but culprits managed to escape under cover of darkness
Police said booked leaders and BYC workers gathered at main Turbat Chowk
Mobile internet outages became common fixtures during protests by PTI since Imran was ousted in 2022
Bokhari emphasised that cases have been registered against "Fasadis", and no one will be spared
