Protesting over the brutal murder of senior cardiologist Dr Jamal Hussain Syed, doctors of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa began on a three-day strike in all major hospitals of the province from Monday.
Dr Syed was abducted by Taliban militants some two months ago and they were demanding a huge ransom for his safe return. Negotiations regarding ransom were in progress when the bullet-ridden body of the cardiologist was found from a deserted area near Jamrud in Khyber Agency on Saturday.
Soon after, the doctors began to stage protests and, on the call of the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA), went on strike from Monday. PDA Secretary General Dr Nadar told Pakistan Today that the doctors were demanding an impartial judicial enquiry into the gruesome murder of the senior
doctor headed by a judge of the Peshawar High Court.
On the call of the PDA, a convention was held at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, attended by representatives of doctors from all over the province. The participants endorsed the decision to go on strike and demanded that Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti fulfil his legal responsibilities in this case.
Patients at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex faced difficulties as a result of the strike. A similar situation was reported in Abbottabad, Saidu Sharif and Dera Ismail Khan. Private clinics and hospitals were also closed in Peshawar and other main cities and towns of the province.
