Attack on Dr Asmatullah: Doctors demand judicial probe into murder attempt

Condemn attempt while deploring security arrangements provided by govt

ABBOTTABAD: Doctors allied with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Peoples Doctors Forum (PDF) on Thursday condemned an assassination attempt on the chairperson of the ENT Department at the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) in Peshawar.

The doctors have also demanded a judicial probe into the matter. Dr Asmatullah was critically injured when unidentified assailants ambushed him outside Peshawar HMC on Thursday. “Entire doctor fraternity of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is in shock over the murder attempt on Dr Asmatullah,” PDF spokesperson Dr Daud Iqbal said while addressing an emergency meeting in Abbottabad on Thursday. He added that the incident had exposed the government’s poor security arrangement for doctors.

Act of cowardice

While terming the attack an act of cowardice, Dr Iqbal said Dr Asmatullah is an active member of PDF who always vouched for the welfare of doctors in the province.

Dr Iqbal urged the government to initiate a judicial probe into the matter.

He also reminded the government of the murder of Dr Daud, a trainee medical officer at the Ayub Teaching Hospital. He has also urged the government to take steps to enhance security of doctors.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2016.