RAHIM YAR KHAN: Around 10 daily wages and work-charge employees of the Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) have thrashed the director finance (DF) for not signing the bills of their salaries.

The authorities claim that they represent the 615 employees who have been working illegally and are not supposed to be paid. SZMCH DF Ahmed Nawaz was at his office when sub-engineers Naveed and Talha, along with other employees, came there and abused and thrashed him. They demanded that their bills should be passed immediately but Nawaz said he could not do so without approvalof the competent authority.

The employees also threatened him with dire consequences but he refused to sign the bills and requested them to show any order or documents by the Board Of Management (BoM). Nawaz also called police through helpline 15.

Ahmed Nawaz told Dawn that as police arrived, SZMCH Principal Dr Saleem Laghari and Medical Superintendent Dr Agha Touheed intervened and tried to mediate. After the incident he left for Multan. The SZMCH administration has been facing the issue of illegal appointments of employees from grade 4 to 17 during the last 10 years. Officials say the salaries of more than 846 employees have not been released due to their unclear status.