TIMERGARA: The employees of Utility Stores Corporation (USC), Dir region, on Friday held a protest demonstration against the arrest of their central chairman Arif Hussain Shah.

The employees closed their franchises in Lower Dir and Upper Dir against the government action. The protesting workers staged a rally in front of Timergara Press Club and chanted slogans against the government.

The rally was addressed by president of the workers union Imtiaz Ahmad, general secretary Ali Mohammad, Gul Akbar Khan and PPP district secretary information Alam Zeb advocate.

The speakers condemned the arrest of USC Labour Union chairman Arif Hussain Shah and said that the government wanted to hide its inefficiency by arresting the officials.

They said that the utility stores were not being provided with adequate supplies. They said that majority of the stores were short of commodities and the government had not provided any Ramazan relief packages to these stores.

The speakers alleged that due to the government`s flawed policies the doctors, nurses, teachers, clerks and other civil officers wereholding protest rallies. They demanded immediate release of Arif Hussain and warned to close down the USC franchises if their demand was not accepted.

N E G L I G E N C E ALLEGED: A village council vice-chairman Syed Ali Shah on Friday alleged that condition of a patient Umar Mohammad, a resident of Hajiabad, had worsened due to negligence of a doctor at Chakdara THQ hospital.

Talking to mediapersons at Chakdara in the presence of patients` relatives, Mr Shah said that the man suffered injuries after he was hit by a motorcycle at Amirabad four days ago. He said the injured was taken to the THQ hospital where the orthopaedic surgeon suggested surgery of the patient due to multiple fractures in his leg.

He complained the patient was not operated upon despite the lapse of four days. He said that the doctor was now refusing to conduct surgery on the patient. He demanded of the health authorities to provide justice to the poor patient who had now been taken to the Saidu Teaching Hospital, Swat.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai on Friday imposed ban on constructions within the radius of 500 meters near the bridges both upstream and downstream under Section 144 in the district.

A statement issued here said that there had been reports of illegal constructions on both sides of Panjkora River that could cause loss to human lives and bridges.