KP Health Minister Accused Of Attacking Doctor

KP Health Minister Accused Of Attacking Doctor
PESHAWAR: A local court in Peshawar directed Police to register a criminal case against provincial Health Minister Hisham Khan for allegedly attacking a doctor on duty at Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar.

The session court announced a verdict in the case of Dr Ziauddin Afridi vs. Hisham Inam Ullah Khan on Saturday. On the 14th of May this year an incident happened at MTI KTH when provincial minister Dr Hisham with armed private security guards surrounded Dr Ziauddin Afridi and injured him.

Dr Zia and his colleagues rushed to the police station but the SHO refused to register a case against the nominated accused Health Minister.

After refusal from the police station Dr Zia filed a petition in Peshawar High Court against the non registration of case against the Health Minister KP Dr Hisham.

Dr Zia has also nominated Dr Nowsherwan Burki, Chairman Board of Governors KTH, advisor to Health Minister Dr Jawad Ahmed and Hospital Director Naik Dad Khan along with five other officials in the FIR.

According to Dr Zia, Health Minister Hisham Khan abused and dragged him to the ground while his security guard beat him with the butt of an AK-47 – which has been recorded in CCTV footage.

Dr Zia remained in the ICU for 9 days due to injuries on the chest and head but the police were reluctant to register a criminal case against the minister and his private militia. Dr Zia alleged that the FIR No 330 was scheduled but not filed after which he lost hope in police and went to courts for further justice.

The courts issued a verdict and directed SHO Town to file a criminal case against the accused Health Minister of KP. The court also issued an order to the SP Town to provide explanation on these charges.

The Health Minister's representative informed Naya Daur that Dr Ziauddin Afridi first attacked Nowsherwan Burki and threw eggs on him on the same day while he was heading an official meeting of the Health Department. Dr Ziauddin Afridi's behaviour with Chairman BOG Dr Nowsherwan Burki was insulting, after which the Health Minister directly went to the hospital and the said incident occurred. Dr Hisham claimed he respects the doctor community but wanted to eliminate the threat to guests and health officials from doctors.

The Health official further said that the incident happened with Dr Zia because of his misbehavior with Dr Nowsherwan Burki.

It has been a couple of years that hospitals at KP are at risk due to frequent strikes and protests against new health reforms. The chief minister recently formed a provincial level committee to discuss differences with the protesting doctors. The committee in the first phase negotiated to end the thirty-day-long protest and insured that reservations over the Health reforms will be addressed.