NAB’s occupation of girls’ hostel: Doctors, students to go on strike from March 1

Demanding vacation of hostel, better healthcare facilities and salaries.

RAWALPINDI: Students of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) and the young doctors at allied hospitals in Rawalpindi will go on strike from March 1 to protest against NAB’s illegal occupation of a girls’ hostel.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had earlier given assurance to the students and the administration of the college that they will vacate the hostel by February 28.

NAB occupied the building back in 1999 and established its offices and four accountability courts there. Back then the hostel was empty.

However, over time the student population has increased by many folds and girls have been facing a serious shortage of rooms in the existing hostels.

This year more than 750 girls sought accommodation in hostels, but only 150 of them could be accommodated, said the hostel warden.

Dr Umer Saeed, President Young Doctors’ Association Rawalpindi, said that they will hold a “series of peaceful demonstrations across Punjab” starting March 1.

The agenda for the protests is not just limited to vacating the girls’ hostel. The association also hopes to convince the government to increase the health budget, increase doctors’ salaries and ensure provision of adequate health facilities in hospitals.

He added that around 5,000 doctors would participate in the protests. The doctors will not, however, abandon critical medical care and will continue to do their duties in Intensive Care Units, Coronary Care Units and emergency wards. “We do not want the patients to suffer.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2011.