Islamabad: January 31, 2012. (PCP) Extending full support to the protesting staff of three local hospitals, Convener World Minorities Alliance Julius Salik has urged authorities concerned to accept protesters’ demands. Addressing a gathering of over 1000 protesters who gathered in front of Kalsum International Hospital on Jinanah Avenue on Tuesday to stage a sit-in, J Salik urged President Asif Ali Zardai and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to intervene for acceptance of demands being made by protesters for the past one month. J Salik said it was a matter of shame for powers that be who were not accepting genuine demands of the protesting staff of three local hospitals. “I feel like throwing dust on their (authorities’) heads to make them feel ashamed of their inability to meet protesters’ demands,” he observed while throwing dust on his own head as mark of protest against apathy of the authorities concerned. J Salik regretted that hundreds of nurses, doctors, paramedics and non-paramedics of PIMS, Polyclinic and NIRM were being deprived of their legitimate rights during the rule of a democratically elected government. He pledged to fight till his last breath for acceptance of legitimate demands of the protesters. A Joint Action Committee of the staff (nurses, doctors, paramedics and non-paramedics) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic and NIRM is leading the protest. Their demands include award of running grades and a regular promotion channel for all employees (Grade-1 to Grade-200) and withdrawal of government decision to privatize the above mentioned three hospitals. Syed Manzar Abbas Naqvi, Secretary General Joint Action Committee of the protesting staff of three local hospitals announced that their sit-in (dharna) would continue till acceptance of their demands. Others who pledged their support for protesters’ demands included, Zahoor Awan, General Secretary Pakistan Workers Federation, Munnawar Mughal, former president and executive member Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, executive member Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, General Secretary CDA Mazdoo Union, Tikka Khan, General Secretary All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Federation, Raja Waqar Hussain, Secretary General Pak PWD United Workers Federation, Muhammad Akram Bhatti, Secretary General, All Pakistan Sports Boards Employees Union (CBA), Islamabad, J Salik, Convener World Minorities Alliance and Shehzad Manzoor Kiani, Senior Vice President All Pakistan Clerks Association.