Doctors in Balochistan Continue Strike Against Colleagues’ Killings

The Baloch Hal

The strike in the government hospitals of Balochistan continued on Thursday to protest against the incidents of killing and abduction of the doctors.

The strike is being observed on the call of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan chapter. Due to strike, the outdoor patient departments (OPDs) and operation theatres remained closed, causing immense difficulties to the patients. On Monday, Dr Dawood Aziz was gunned down by armed men in Khuzdar area when he was going to hospital from his house. Dr Hameed was murdered in Mastung. Recently, Doctor Saeed Ahmed Khan, an eye-specialist was abducted from Saryab Road area. As per details, amid deteriorating situation in the province, at least 27 doctors were killed and 16 doctors were abducted during past three years. The Supreme Court took notice of the violent incidents in the province and also hearing a case pertaining to Balochistan’s law and order situation. The protesting doctors have vowed to shut emergency wards if provincial government failed to provide security to the doctors within 10 days. The PMA has said that work in the emergency wards would also be suspended if the government failed to fulfill the doctors’ demands. On the other hand, thousands of the patients across the province suffered due to the strike.