Gujrat [Pakistan], April 5 : In a strong display of public anger over inadequate healthcare infrastructure, activists affiliated with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) staged a sit-in on Friday, pressing authorities to establish a Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospital in Jalalpur Jattan, as reported by Dawn.
According to Dawn, despite being designated a tehsil headquarters nearly four years ago, the town, one of the largest urban centres in the Gujrat district, still lacks a fully functional THQ hospital. Protesters gathered at Adda Tam Tam, the city's central square, where they voiced frustration at what they described as continued administrative apathy. Demonstrators accused both district officials and the Punjab government of failing to ensure even basic medical services for a population nearing 600,000.
The protest was led by local JI figures, including Emir Mudabbar Siddique and PP29 leader Anas Mujahid, alongside members of civil society. Representatives from patient welfare groups also joined, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the healthcare situation. Participants carried banners and placards demanding immediate action.
Speakers at the gathering emphasised that the absence of a THQ hospital has left residents dependent on a small civil hospital, which they claimed suffers from severe shortages of doctors, paramedics, and essential medicines. They further criticised the disparity in resource allocation, noting that smaller towns such as Kunjah and Dinga already have THQ facilities, while Jalalpur Jattan, known for its textile-based cottage industry, remains neglected, as cited by Dawn.
JI leaders announced that their campaign would continue and warned of further protests if authorities fail to respond. A follow-up sit-in has been scheduled for April 12, reflecting growing public pressure. In a separate development, protest participants also offered funeral prayers in absentia for a police officer, Umar Beig, who was killed during a recent encounter with robbers near Karianwala, as reported by Dawn.
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