Highway crime: Teacher, leukemic doctor abducted on highway

Kidnappers have demanded Rs5 million for both men.

MORO/KARACHI: A doctor and a teacher were abducted as they were returning home from work in the Naushero Feroze district on Tuesday night.

Dr Nisar Abbasi, 48, and a teacher, Abdul Qayym Pirzado, were travelling home to their village when they were stopped at the National Highway. Their car was found abandoned at Moro Bypass.

Dr Abbasi works at the Taluka Hospital Bhirya, Naushero Feroze district while Pirzado is the head of a teachers association in his village.

According to Abbasi’s brother, Munawar Abbasi, the doctor suffers from leukaemia. The Pakistan Medical Association, Sindh, condemned the kidnapping and issued a press release demanding the doctor’s release and expressing their anger at the government.

“We request the kidnappers to release the poor doctor as he is ill,” it read. “It is pathetic that doctors are deemed to be sitting ducks and easy prey for culprits. Doctors are being threatened, brutally attacked, killed and taken for ransom. This is reason that doctors are leaving the country.”

The kidnappers have contacted Munawar and have asked for a ransom of Rs5 million for both men. They have not specified a date but will contact the family again once they have had time to arrange for the money. The Naushauro Feroze SSP has assured the doctor’s family and clan, the Kalhoros, that they would be rescued. Right now it is possible that the kidnappers are hiding somewhere in the katcha areas surrounding Moro.

The men’s families, clan and Pirzado’s students held a protest he be found. They have given the SSP two days before they stage a sit-in at the National Highway.

with additional input by ppi

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2011.