Hospital guards protest unpaid wages

Security guards at government hospitals in Rawalpindi staged protests over the non-payment of wages on Tuesday, blocking Murree Road and disrupting traffic.

During the demonstration, one guard suffered a heart attack. Protesters called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice and also chanted slogans against the owner of the security company, PML-N MPA Ziaullah Shah, whom they held responsible for the delay in salaries. The protesting guards stated that security services at allied hospitals have been outsourced to a private company, which receives Rs45,000 per guard per month from the government. However, the guards are paid only Rs25,000, and that too is not disbursed on time.

They said that amid rising inflation, it has become impossible to meet household expenses, particularly as salaries have not been paid for the past four months.

During the protest, a security guard identified as Chacha Aurangzeb suffered a heart attack and was immediately shifted to Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH0. According to Medical Superintendent Dr Sharjeel Sarfraz Sheikh, his condition has since stabilised.

The protest not only caused severe traffic congestion on Murree Road but also disrupted hospital operations. Hospital administration officials stated that the guards are employees of the private security company, not of the hospitals, and therefore their salaries are not the responsibility of the hospital management.