Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch, the surgeon who was abducted nine days ago, returned home safe and sound on Monday.
Dr Baloch was abducted by an armed group while on way to Quetta from his home town Mastung. His captors demanded Rs 8 million as ransom from the family which they kept refusing to pay.
The family said not a single penny was paid for Baloch’s release and gave all credit to the tribal elders of the area.
Interestingly, the striking doctors, who had demanded government’s action for the recovery of their colleague, on Monday announced calling off their strike in private hospitals but kept striking in government hospital.
“We have decided in a meeting held with me in the chair that the doctors will call off their strike in private hospitals and will also run their clinics in these hospitals after observing a three-day strike to put pressure on the government to seek the release of the abducted surgeon. However, we will continue to strike in government hospitals until the safe recovery of Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch,” Sultan Tareen, the president of Balochistan Paramedical Association Balochistan Chapter told reporters on Monday.
The doctors’ strike in government hospitals began last Monday and later on Friday they boycotted work in private hospital. Tribal elders, headed by Nawab Mohammad Khan Shawani had held a jirga in Mastung and warned the abductors of Dr Baloch of stern action if they did not release him.
