LAKKI MARWAT: Unused medical equipment and machinery worth millions of rupees have been rusting at the district headquarters hospital, Tajazai, for the last several years. It was revealed during inspection of the hospital by officials of anti-corruption establishment (ACE) on Wednesday.

ACE team, headed by assistant director Abdul Hai Baber and circle officer Shahid Adnan, visited the hospital following public complaints about absence of doctors and paramedics from duty.However, during the visit all the doctors, including the medical superintendent, paramedics and other employees, were found present.

The ACE officials were told that several posts of specialists had been vacant since long, causing problems for patients.

It was revealed that due to unavailability of cardiologist and other specialist doctors the medical equipment and machinery meant for their departments could not be used since long.

`The machinery and equipment worth millions of rupees will rust for lack of use,` a health staffer reportedly told the ACE team. He said that the higher quarters had been repeatedly requested to fill the vacant posts of cardiologist and other specialist doctors, but to no avail.POLICE ACTION: About 93 proclaimed offenders and 210 suspects were rounded up in action against criminal gangs and anti-social elements in the district in March, an official said on Wednesday.

He said that district police officer Ali Akbar Shah had been supervising the operation.

The official said that the arrested outlaws were wanted to police in murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and other cases. He claimed that the police also seized illegal weapons, including 12 Kalashnikovs, one Kalakov, three rifles, 28 shotguns and 77 pistols from anti-social elements and registered cases against them in relevant police stations. He said that during the month-long operation the police also arrested several drug traffickers.