Demanding transfer: Paramedics, hospital staff protest against MS

Accuse Muhammad Afridi of using abusive language with subordinates.

CHARSADDA: Paramedic staff along with class-IV employees of the District Headquarters Hospital, Charsadda on Monday protested against Medical Superintendent (MS) Muhammad Khan Afridi, demanding his transfer.

More than 50 staffers shut down the out-patient department (OPD) of the hospital for more than two hours, accusing Afridi of disrespecting lower ranked staff.

Paramedical staff president Syed Rasool claimed the MS was not suitable for the post because “from the day he was appointed at DHQ, his behaviour with the employees has been harsh and intolerable.”

Class-IV Union President Pir Iqbal said he and some other staffers were suspended by Afridi multiple times, accusing the latter of using abusing language with his subordinates. “We will continue to protest until he is transferred from the hospital,” added Iqbal.



In his defence, Afridi alleged all the paramedic staff and class-IV employees were hired because of their political affiliations. “I want them to work, but they refused and started protesting,” he said, adding more than 20 employees were not showing up at work every day and participating in political gatherings in the district instead.

“If the people of the area do not want me to work at the hospital, I will leave,” said Afridi. However, he warned the hospital “would be ruined at the hands of the lower staff which does not want to work.”

Afridi said he will not allow any government employee to use the state’s property and engage in political activities during work hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2013.