Protests against arrests of doctors, paramedics

Medical fraternity warns of boycotting polio campaign

HYDERABAD: In reaction to the arrest and registration of an FIR against the doctors and paramedics of Taluka Hospital Mehar in Dadu district, the medical fraternity has taken to protests on Saturday.

Following a judicial inspection by District and Sessions Judge Ashok Kumar, a clerk of the third civil judge Roshan Ali lodged an FIR at A-Section police station on Thursday, nominating 27 staff members. The charges include absence from duty, supplying expired drugs to patients, damaging government property and selling medicines. The FIR also contains sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Subsequently, the police arrested medical superintendent Dr Ashfaq Soomro, hepatitis centre incharge Dr Akhtar Gorar, storekeeper Khuram Aftab, clerk Farooq Siyal, ward servant Sajjad Siyal and Ghulam Nabi Chandio.



Dr Zahid Shaikh, Dr Mohammad Khan, Dr Naeem Shaikh, Dr Asgar Shaikh, Dr Abdul Fatah Dahar, Dr Naeem Akhtar Lakhiar, Dr Saddam Mahesar, Dr Meena Begum Dero, Dr Uzma Soomro, Dr Samina Siyal and others are also nominated.

The staff boycotted the outpatient department (OPD) for three hours while District Health Officer Dr Javed Dawach and Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Dadu chapter leader Dr Bashir Irri led the protest at the hospital's entrance.

They complained that the medical fraternity is being subjected to harassment time and again and that this practice should be stopped. "If we are responsible for something, a judicial inquiry should be conducted," said Dr Irri. "It has never happened in the history of Pakistan that doctors are handcuffed and produced in the anti-terrorism court like terrorists."



The protesters warned that if the arrested doctors are not released by December 18, they will boycott the upcoming polio campaign. The PMA announced that the OPD boycott will also continue until their demand is not accepted.

The doctors, paramedics and staff at Khairpur Nathan Shah Taluka hospital, Manjhand Taluka Hospital and other health centres also held separate protests. They appealed to the superior judiciary to take notice of the arrests.