Like the rest of Pakistan, cricket fever also gripped the medics and paramedics who have been on a protest since Tuesday in the metropolitan city. They put up a big screen at their protest venue outside the Sindh Secretariat to watch the first semifinal of T20 World Cup between Pakistan and New Zealand.
The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) continued its sit-in for the second day on Wednesday in front of the Sindh Secretariat to protest non-payment of health risk allowance. The doctors and nurses have been boycotting all services, except for emergency, at the government-run hospitals for 24 days.
A huge contingent of riot police, armed with water cannon, was also present at Peoples Square to control the protesters. GHA leaders Dr. Mehboob Nonani and Ejaz Kuleri held negotiations with the Provincial Health Secretary on Tuesday but failed to reach on an agreement.
The protesters warned that if their demands were not accepted, then they would march towards the Chief Minister House. They claimed that some of their leaders were arrested on Tuesday but freed later. They said such intimidating tactics could not shake their resolve.
In the midst of the noisy protest, the organizers announced to install a big screen in front of the Sindh Secretariat to entertain the protesters, but police stopped them from putting up the screen near the road.
The organizers then installed a big screen at another venue to watch the T20 semi-final and celebrated Pakistan's victory over New Zealand. Throughout the match, the protesters cheered on the national team by singing patriotic songs. They also chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' when the national team clinched victory.
"It is the same place where we were protesting an hour earlier, but now we are watching the semi-final and rooting for Pakistan team," one protester said. "Like the rest of Pakistan, cricket fever has also gripped our protest camp," he added.
The protesters said that Pakistan's miraculous fightback has given them hope that their struggle would also come to fruition.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2022.
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