Security of Polyclinic: CDA yet to remove encroachments

ISLAMABAD:

The administration of Polyclinic wants the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to move against illegal kiosks, pushcart vendors and tea stalls outside the hospital.

The hospital had asked the civic agency to clear encroachments, which it said posed security risks. The issue came to fore after a gun attack at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), in which the hospital’s cardiology head was critically shot and later died.

Dr Tanveer Malik, Polyclinic spokesperson, said kiosks and stalls outside the hospital presented a threat. “The hospital and police have repeatedly asked CDA to take action but they have failed.”

“The Pims shooting incident has created fear among doctors here,” he said.

He said the hospital did not have proper boundary walls and thus required extra measures for its security.

Ramzan Sajid, CDA spokesperson, said the authority has served notices to all the encroachers, giving them three days to clear the site. He said action was delayed due to the incessant rain, but will happen soon now.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2015.