Ayub teaching hospital seeks probe into alleged NHA demolition of hospital wall, warns of flood risk
ABBOTTABAD: The administration of Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) has alleged that the National Highway Authority (NHA), in coordination with the district administration and police, carried out an unauthorised demolition of the hospital’s protective boundary wall at Gate No. 5 without any official notification, court order or prior notice.
According to the hospital administration, the operation involved demolishing a section of the protective wall despite the absence of any legal documentation authorising the action.
Hospital officials claimed that when they sought a written order or court directive from the authorities on site, no such documents were produced.
The administration expressed serious concern that the ongoing work would divert water from an approximately eight-foot-wide storm water drain into a two-foot-wide channel, significantly increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
Hospital officials warned that if the project proceeds, floodwaters could inundate Ayub Teaching Hospital and I Noor Hospital, potentially damaging medical equipment, medicines and other essential supplies worth billions of rupees. They said the relevant authorities would be held responsible for any losses resulting from such an incident.
The hospital further maintained that the action was contrary to the directions of the High Court and that no prior notice had been served to the administration before the demolition.
Associate Hospital Director Dr Daud Iqbal, Duty DMS Dr Junaid Sarwar Malik, maintenance department officials and other concerned officers visited the site, assessed the situation and briefed the relevant authorities.
The hospital administration has called for immediate intervention, urging the authorities to act in accordance with court directives and legal requirements while ensuring the protection of the hospital, its patients and valuable medical assets purchased with public funds.
The administration also stated that, according to its records, the High Court had previously directed the NHA to apologise to Ayub Teaching Hospital in connection with a similar dispute.
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