Police baton-charge protesting healthcare workers in Karachi

KARACHI: Police used water cannons and manhandled healthcare workers protesting in Karachi, BOL News reported.

At least 150 healthcare workers, including women, were arrested while protesting at Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road. Police said the health workers were detained after attempting to reach the Chief Minister’s House.

Police used water cannons and unleashed violence against women healthcare workers. The representatives of nurses and paramedics were also arrested. Tear gas was also used on the protestors. Police shifted the employees from the van to different police stations

The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) – a collective of healthcare workers campaigning for better working conditions — is holding a protest demanding health risk allowance as part of their salaries.

The health workers threatened to march on the Sindh Chief Minister’s House after Friday prayers if the government failed to meet their demands. The alliance had been holding a sit-in outside the Sindh Secretariat since Monday.

The protesters were stopped outside DJ Science College after Friday prayers by police who erected temporary barriers on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road. South SSP Syed Asad Raza also held negotiations with the protestors which failed to yield results.

The Sindh government has issued a notification constituting a committee for holding talks with the protesters. The protestors demanded the health minister visit and assure them their demands will be accepted.

The protesting doctors and paramedics blocked the main road which led to a severe traffic jam. Police called in the riot squad which used water cannons to disperse the protesting health workers.

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