Medical community demands arrest of killers and kidnappers

KARACHI- The various doctor organizations have unanimously demanded of the federal and provincial government Sindh to arrests the all culprits involved in doctors killing in Karachi and cases of these criminals must face trial in military courts.

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi organized a condolence meeting on killing of doctors at PMA House which was chaired by its President Prof Dr Idrees Adhi and Dr Qazi Wasiq. The representatives of PMA Center, Sindh Doctors’ Welfare Organisation (SDWO), Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), Pakistan Orthopaedic Association (POA), Medical Aid Committee and other organization attended the meeting.

The condolence meeting was held against the killing of two doctors within a short span of time in Paposh Nagar on 10 January 2015. Two doctors including child specialist - Dr Akbar Ali and homeopathic Dr Yawar Hussain were shot dead in their clinics.

All the doctors’ organizations unanimously condemned the killing of doctors, demand compensation for the slain. They warned about a complete strike & sit-in in public hospitals, unless all culprits involved in doctors killings were brought to justice. They demanded that the concerned authorities should bring the culprits for trial in the recently formed military courts, in order to stop the menace of target killing of health practitioners in the city.

Prof Dr Idrees Adhi in his remarks said; The key factor behind the doctors killings in the city was sectarianism, as a significant number of health practitioners were killed due this sole reason over the last few years. He said beside this, doctors were being killed over refusal to pay extortion money, ransom. Other ethnic issues, affiliation with political parties and others reasons are also intensifying the menace.

Dr Kaleem Butt said: Unfortunately two health practitioners were killed within 15 minutes within the same area, but none of the political leaders have bothered to condemn the murder of doctors. He said doctors organizations must devise a comprehensive plan before launching protest in public hospitals in Karachi and other parts of Sindh province, against the killing of their colleagues.

President, Pakistan Orthopaedic Association (POA) - Prof Dr Muhammad Parwez Anjum said: Patrolling security vehicles must be assigned to protect doctors during clinic hours. He suggested initiating of phase-wise protest demonstration and sit-ins to record their protest against doctors killing.

Senior leader PMA Center - Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad said; All private clinics, hospitals and public hospitals should jointly shut down their institutions on the same day, to give a strong message to the government and other institutions against killing of doctors in the city.

Secretary General PMA Center Mirza Ali Azhar said; Doctors organizations, civil society and media groups must support the doctors protest against the killing of their colleagues.

A leader of Sindh Doctors’ Welfare Organisation - Dr Nawaz Mallah said; Doctors want protection of life as per constitution and reserve the right to protest against killing of our community members.