Doctors of the government hospitals from across Balochistan on Monday staged a sit-in outside the Governor’s House to protest against the kidnapping of Doctor Saeed Ahmed Khan, however, they announced continuation of the strike after police used tear gas shelling to disperse the protesters.
The strike of doctors in Balochistan entered the 34th day on Monday, creating enormous problems for patients, as the Balochistan government issued show-cause notices to at least 250 doctors for failing to report for duty.
The government has also decided to seal private clinics run by the protesting doctors.
Despite the government’s 24-hour deadline to end the strike, the doctors have been boycotting the OPDs and have even warned of shutting down emergency wards on 9th and 10th Muharram if authorities fail to recover Dr Saeed Khan.
The protesting doctors, led by PMA President Sultan Tareen, marched towards the Governor’s House in Quetta. When the rally got close to the Governor’s House, a scuffle between police and doctors occurred after the police tried to stop their advancement.
Police later fired teargas shells at the doctors when they resisted directions, resulting in injuries to several doctors, several of who fell unconscious.
The infuriated doctors and police personnel also got into fist fights with each other, after which almost 40 doctors voluntarily appeared before Civil Lines police and offered arrest.
Emergency services in all government hospitals were later shut on an appeal by PMA Balochistan.
Dr Saeed was kidnapped on October 16 from his clinic on Sariab Road, prompting doctors to stage province-wide protests.
According to PMA Balochistan President Sultan Tareen, kidnappers were demanding a huge ransom to release Dr Saeed and the provincial government seemed helpless in capturing the abductors.
