Islamabad, July 24: The district hospital here turns into a battleground during the clashes between stone pelters and police causing in-convenience to the patients and affecting the hospital functioning.
 The doctors and locals are demanding removal of the police post located inside the hospital premises terming it as main source of trouble.
 “Whenever clashes erupt, the policemen in the Police Post fire tear gas canisters, some of which land inside the hospital, creating panic among patients,” said a lady doctor, pleading anonymity.
 She said sometimes the stone pelters also take cover in the hospital following which police barges inside and thrashes the patients and attendants as happened in the clashes earlier in the month.
 She said the tear gas was dangerous for the patients particularly with acute respiratory disorders. “On Tuesday evening we had to shift some patients who were on oxygen to other ward, when a tear gas shell landed inside the hospital,” she said.
 Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Gulzar Ahmad while admitting that the presence of the police post was a cause of concern said, “The police has occupied the land long back. I will take up the issue with the district and police administration and try to get it removed as it is responsible for creating chaos in the hospital.”
 Recently, he said during the clashes the stone pelters and the pedestrians ran for cover inside the hospital after which the policemen thrashed the patients and attendants and smashed the window panes. Dr. Gulzar said he had filed the complaint regarding the firing of tear gas canisters into the hospital and beating of people by the police adding the officials assured him that such incidents wouldn’t be repeated.
 The residents too have been demanding the shifting of the Janglat Mandi Police Post from the hospital premises.
 Additional Deputy Development Commissioner, Bashir Ahmad Khan while assuring shifting of the post from hospital premises said, “The hospital land should never have been allowed to be used for the police post. But now we are contemplating to vacate it and shift it some where else”.
 Khan, however appealed the people to cooperate and not allow the hooligans and stone pelters to use the hospital.
 Regarding the use of the force by the policemen on people Khan said, “The stone pelters take cover inside the hospital due to which the patients suffer. However we will ensure that civilians don’t suffer”.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST