Lahore: Protesting nurses split, clash over contract letter issue
One faction continues the protest demanding immediate appointment instead of contractual period.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Nurses protesting over contract-letter issue divided and clashed with each other as Punjab government issued contract letters to ad-hoc nurses. Letters will be distributed in General and Mao hospitals in the first phase of the process. One faction of the nurses continues the sit-in process till now, Dunya News reported.
According to reports, the protesting nurses have been divided into two factions. Member Young Nurses Association Raheela Akhtar said that nurses must end the strike after receiving the contract letters following which, the participating nurses entangled and manhandled each other.
Those against this development pushed Raheela out of the protest.
Meanwhile, Punjab government has distributed three-year contract letters to the ad-hoc nurses after accepting their demands. The letters also assures the permanent appointment after three years of contract period.
Contract letters have been distributed to nurses in General and Mao hospitals in the first phase. Punjab government has also announced to accept nurses recruited under Board of Management as ad-hoc nurses saying the contract letters will be distributed to them in next two days.
Nurses expressed satisfaction over receiving of the letter. Government successfully split the nurses’ faction; however, a large number of nurses is still unwilling to accept contract letters and continue to protest. This faction wants immediate permanent appointment instead of three-year long contractual period.
Members of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PMLQ) and Pakistan Awami Ittehad among members of civil society participated in the sit-in protest to show solidarity.
