Sindh Health Care Commission imposes fines of Rs 1.1 million on more Quacks

Corporate Ambassador/KARACHI: The Sindh Health Care Commission has imposed fines worth 1.1 million rupees on more quacks in the province for violating the law.

The financial penalties on quacks were imposed in 10^th meeting of the Directorate of Anti-Quackery was held by the Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) in Karachi.  

The meeting was chaired by Commissioner and Convener Anti-Quackery Committee Dr Khalid Hussain Shaikh, attended by Commissioner Dr A Razaque Shaikh alongside CEO-SHCC Dr Ahson Qavi Siddiqui and Director Anti Quackery Syed Zeeshan Ali Shah and his team.

Over 33 cases of quackery were reviewed for penalties from all over the province. ‘Recovery for last month was good’, stated Committee Chair and Member Board of Commissioners, Dr Khalid Hussain Shaikh.

The total amount of Rs. 1,115,000 was imposed in a consistent effort to curb down on illegal quackery activities across the province.

Committee reviewed the monthly recovery rate on penalties imposed which was recorded at 73% for the month of January, indicating another positive month for the Directorate of Anti-Quackery, which was appreciated by the Board of Commissioners.

The Committee further recommended verification of nursing diploma holders in cases where CMWs are operating in far out cities and ordered more stern penalties on health care practitioners, in violation in prior warnings issued by SHCC under section 35(ii) of the SHCC Act and Regulations. The Commission advised the team to ensure that all cases penalty cases approved by the Committee are checked through effective follow ups so as to ensure that they are in compliance of SHCC regulations as per law.

Murder of Priest William Siraj in Peshawar and attacks on Christians condemned

ISLAMABAD: Anila Ali, Pakistan Chair of International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, vehemently condemned the murder of Priest William Siraj and attack on the Christian clerics in Peshawar on Jan 30, 2022.

“As a Pakistani American, I am very concerned at the escalation of violence against Christians in Pakistan.  Pakistanis have a constitutional right to practice their religion freely and Christians should never have to feel unsafe in Pakistan when going to pray at a church. I know how important religious freedom is to Muslim Americans _ it allows us to practice religion freely and we support minorities to worship their religion without any fear,” said Anila Ali.

IRF Chair demanded of the Pakistan government to provide more security to the Christian community in the country.

Anila Ali said, “An attack on the Christian community should be seen as an attack on entire Pakistan.”

Father William Siraj who was shot dead in Peshawar a couple of days ago.

Importantly, the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, gave assurance to minorities in the following words:

“You are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in the state of Pakistan. We urge the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan to do more to protect the Christian community. Religious persecution is on the rise in Pakistan and it is of grave concern to for everyone in Pakistan and abroad. This heinous attack and killing requires an urgent reckoning with Islamic extremism as the enemy within,” Anila Ali added.

We send prayers to the grieving family of Pastor William Siraj and assure the Pakistani Christian community of our support. 

Killing of Father William Siraj

Unknown gunmen shot dead a Christian priest William Siraj and wounded another in an attack in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar. Police and local leaders of the minority community said the victims were leaving a city church following Sunday Mass when two men riding a motorcycle ambushed and opened fire on the priests’ vehicle.

Police officials have started a probe to hunt the killers of Priest William Siraj in Peshawar.

Police identified the slain priest as Father William Siraj, who was 75. Doctors said the wounded priest, Father Patrick Naeem, was being treated in a Peshawar hospital and described his condition as stable.

No one immediately took responsibility for the shooting. Police officials said an operation to find and arrest the assailants was under way.

Christian leaders condemn attack

“We demand justice and protection of Christians from the Government of Pakistan,” tweeted educator and Bishop Azad Marshall, from the Church of Pakistan.

Members of the Christian community have previously been targeted in Peshawar. The deadliest attack occurred in 2013 when two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a city church as hundreds of worshipers were leaving Sunday Mass.

Christians represent about 2% of Pakistan’s population of around 220 million people, which is overwhelmingly Muslim.