Unfair accusation: FIC employees released after colleagues’ protest

Protesters abandoned hospital duties and went on a strike, calling for the release of their colleagues.


Our Correspondent June 20, 2014
Protesters abandoned hospital duties and went on a strike, calling for the release of their colleagues. PHOTO: FILE

FAISALABAD:


All five employees of the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) who were arrested by the Civil Lines police on Wednesday on charges of stealing hospital items were released on Thursday, after hospital employees staged a protest demonstration.


The protesters chanted slogans against the FIC administration and said they would not resume their duties until the arrested employees were released.

The hospital administration negotiated with the employees and later asked the police to release the employees.

Several people faced problems in the absence of doctors and hospital staff on duty.

Mubarak Ali, an attendant of a patient, told The Express Tribune that he had brought his father for treatment from Samundri.

“We travelled for three hours but when we arrived at the hospital, we were told that workers were on strike,” he said.

FIC Medical Superintendent (MS) Muhammad Ziaullah told The Express Tribune that 40 stents worth Rs5 million were stolen from the FIC.

He said Civil Lines police had registered a case on the complaint by Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Nadeem Afzal and arrested five employees, Adeel Imran, Imran Abdullah, Muhammad Tahir, Naveed Shaukat and Rana Ehsan.

He said the men were arrested after they were caught stealing stents on CCTV cameras.

“Their colleagues protested and boycotted their duties and called for an in-house inquiry,” he said.

He said the hospital administration had prioritised patients and decided to ask for release of the men.

He said a committee had been formed to probe into the theft.

He said he would supervise inquiry and ensure transparency.

Paramedics Staff Association president Mian Mehbood Hussain the employees were arrested without an internal inquiry.

“They should be heard,” he said.

Civil Lines Station House Officer (SHO) Rana Naseer Khan Manj told newsmen that the FIC employees were arrested after preliminary investigation. He said CCTV footage was primary evidence of their guilt.

The SHO said the men were released on the request of the MS. He said the case would remain open until the investigation at the hospital was concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.

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