Junior doctors in Balochistan urged the Supreme Court to take action against police for using excessive force to disperse a doctors’ rally.
Police resorted to baton-charge, tear-gas shelling and aerial firing at a rally recently.
Protesting in front of the Quetta Press Club, activists of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) chanted slogans against the provincial government and called for sacking all policemen involved in the incident.
The young doctors also threatened to march from Quetta to Islamabad, if their demands were not met.
“All policemen involved in firing and baton-charge should be suspended. If our demands are not met, doctors will launch a long march towards Islamabad,” said YDA President Dr Samad Panezai.
All major hospitals of Quetta, including the Sandeman Hospital, Bolan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Helper Eye Hospital, Fatima Jinnah TB Sanatorium wore a deserted look.
Strike was also observed in all district headquarters hospitals in response to the call of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and YDA.
“We will build up the momentum of our protest. We will not call off the strike until our demands are met,” said Vice-President YDA Dr Asif Baloch. “The government should take action against the provincial minister health and the secretary health…they are the ones complicating the issue. Our demands are simple – pay raise and benefits equivalent to our colleagues in other provinces,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ