Dr Haider, his son laid to rest

Day of mourning observed in medical institutions across Punjab.

LAHORE:

Hundreds of people including doctors, paramedical staff and nurses offered funeral prayers for Dr Ali Haider on Tuesday.

They prayers were offered in Gulberg.

Dr Haider and his 12-year-old son were laid to rest in the Gulberg graveyard.

A day of mourning was observed on Tuesday in medical institutions across the province to condemn the killing of the eye surgeon and teacher and his son Murtaza Haider.

No classes were held at medical colleges and routine activities also remained suspended at district hospitals.

The treatment of patients in need of intensive care and emergency, however, continued.

Post Graduate Medical Institute Principal Prof Anjam Habib Vohra said that Prof Haider was a great human and a great professional. “He restored the vision of hundreds of visually impaired people. He was considered an authority on complications of eye diseases.

It is a great misfortune for not only the PGMI and the LGH but also for the general public that such a kind hearted professional was brutally murdered,” he said.

Prof Vohra appealed to the chief minister to provide financial assistance to the doctor’s family in view of his “excellent services for humanity”. He also demanded that the family be given protection.

The PGMI and LGH paramedical staff protested at Hali Road after the funeral, demanding that those responsible be arrested as soon as possible.

Funeral prayers were also offered for Dr Haider in several cities.

The Pakistan Medical Association has also announced that its members would wear black arm bands to work.

A walk and condolence reference will be held at the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Auditorium on Wednesday (today).

The qul prayers will be held today at 3pm at Dr Haider’s residence in Gulberg II.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2013.