Several injured, 1 in critical condition as police baton charge protesting nurses
Nurses in various cities have suspended emergency operations to show solidarity.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Police stormed at protesting nurses outside Punjab Assembly with baton injuring several female nurses, one of whom is pregnant and in critical condition following the charge, Dunya News reported.
Following the violent attacks by police, nurses of Mao Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Allied Hospital and Civil Hospital of Faisalabad suspended services in all sections including emergency as protest. The protest blocked Mall road suspending traffic for several hours. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has sought the report of violence on nurses.
Adhoc nurses have had staged a sit-in protest at copper road and when they advanced towards Punjab Assembly, police along with lady constables stormed at them using baton in a bid to disperse them. Police also took over 10 nurses into custody and escorted them to unknown location.
Several nurses were wounded trying to resist the violent attack; with one of them – who is pregnant – critically injured and was rushed to Ganga Ram Hospital.
Following the news of attacks on nurses, the nursing staff of several public hospitals suspended activities as protest and came out in solidarity with the affected nurses.
The nurses of Multan’s Civil and Cardiology hospitals also joined suspended the nursing activities to show solidarity with the affected nurses.
Young doctors and nurses in Khushab closed down the OPD to convey their protest to the authorities. The Balochistan Nursing Federation has announced province-wide strike from Saturday.
The suspension of medical activities continues to affect the patients. Young Doctors Association has called general council meeting to discuss the violent attack on the nurses.
Sunni Ittehad Council has strongly condemned the attack. In a statement issued by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, he said that the government wants to negotiate with terrorists on one hand, and is attacking women on the other.
