PMLN protests kidney hospital renaming

MINGORA: The workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) on Friday staged a protest against the renaming of Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government recently renamed Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital as Swat Kidney Hospital.

The provincial cabinet had moved a summary for the purpose.

The decision has prompted the PMLN to stage the protest. The protesters led by Member National Assembly Ibadullah blocked the Sangota road to all kinds of traffic.

Chanting slogans against the government, the protesters said the PTI rulers were placing plaques at the uplift projects initiated by the previous PML-N government.

Speaking on the occasion, MNA Ibadullah said that the hospital was built through donations at the time when militancy and flood affected the scenic Swat valley.

“The record shows that the hospital was set up with donations and no government funds were used. Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the hospital and later on donated his salaries when he became the premier,” he claimed.

The MNA said that the PML-N would win the election in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He added that the PTI government had added to the woes of the people, who were fed up with the rulers. He said the slogan of change was a ploy to reach the corridors of power.

The lawmaker said the rulers had reneged on all the pledges and were unable to deliver.

“The hospital was established with the financial support of Punjab Trust Hospital, at the cost of Rs700 million with an aim to give a gift to the flood and terrorism affectees,” said Muhammd Ali Shah, ex district Nazim Swat, adding that Ishaq Dar had donated Rs50 million from his personal account when he was chairman of the trust.

“Instead of renaming the hospital, the government should have provided extra funds to set up new machinery, medicines and facilities to the patients. The political decision of the Chief Minister would only increase the public anger, and will be mobilized against the incompetent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” said ex-MPA and PMLN leader Qaimoos Khan.