An employee of National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care on Wednesday set himself on fire in protest against the government for not regularising the services of lady health workers (LHWs) and other male staff associated with the programme.
Barkat Ali, a driver of the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care immolated himself here in front of the press club against the government’s ‘apathy’ towards more than 100,000 employees, majority of females, of the National Programme, who have been struggling for their regualarisation for the last 18 years. The LHWs and male staff from across the country have been staging hunger strike in front of the National Press Club, Islamabad, for the last 11 days for their regularisation. The other day they had warned the government that they would commit suicides if their demands were not met by Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Barkat Ali, who had been associated with the programme for the last 17 years, set himself on fire in a suicide bid. The officials of the ICT health department and police on duty rushed to save his life and took him to hospital in serious condition.
Barkat Ali, from rural town of Jacobabad, Sindh, sprinkled fuel on his body before setting himself on fire, said SP Capt (retd) Muhamad Ilays
Barkat’s 11-year-old daughter, Rashman, who was present at the hunger strike camp, fell unconscious seeing her father on ablaze. Both, father and daughter were shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. Doctors say Barkat’s condition is serious as he 50 percent body was burnt.
SUSPECT ARRESTED: Kohsar police on Wednesday arrested a security guard of a private company from outside the press club. He was collecting information from the camp of missing persons. The police said the suspect was being investigated. It is relevant to note here that during the last month the police arrested six security guards from the missing persons’ camp. They were collecting information for embassies. They were sent to jail on the charges of spying.
