This man pretending to be 90 years old demands the government consider him to become the next chief minister. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
The doctors in Sindh have a strong feeling that former chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, is not fit to take up the position for the third time.
“We do not need an aged man as our chief minister” and “Please nominate healthy and potential candidate for this slot” were some of the slogans the crowd was shouting outside Karachi Press Club on Saturday afternoon. The crowd comprised mostly young doctors, most of whom were earlier affiliated with the Peoples Doctors Forum, a Pakistan Peoples Party medical wing.
More than four dozen male and female doctors continued their demo for about two hours in the scorching weather. They had also brought with them an old-man who was holding a banner claiming that he was 90 years old so he should be made the chief minister instead.
“After the age of 80 years, the overall working capacity of a person is reduced to 60 per cent,” said Dr Muhammad Ali Thallo, the president of Sindh Doctors Alliances, referring to medical research. The brain, heart pumping and kidney reduce their functions and neurons give up working properly, tumbling memory levels. “In this situation, how can they appoint an 88-year old man as CM for the third time.”
He demanded the government withdraw the decision, clarifying that they were not against Shah or were plotting revenge. “Since he has not delivered in the last five years, we are opposing his appointment,” said Dr Shahid Brohi, another participant. The association has prepared a document carrying signatures of 200 doctors who have declared Shah ‘unfit’ on medical grounds.
A doctor complained that the outgoing government failed to improve healthcare. “I live in Malir and there are no government hospitals - not even a single gynaecologist or female doctor - working at any basic health centre or dispensary over there,” she said. “Despite our best efforts, he [Shah] had no time to meet us in the last five years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
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@ Dr Thallo: Dear Dr Saheb, I did not want to hurt your feelings and emmotions by commenting on the issue. Like I mentioned it in the above comment that I was told by a journalist friend present there at the time of protest. If that journalist had any affiliation with PPP or was a supporter is a different story. With all due respect if we discuss about the performance of Mr Shah it was not that bad still a lot needed to be done. @ Kausar Khurshid: Unfortunately very few honest bread earners would agree with you. I have come across only those in favor of Syed Owais Muzzafar Shah Hashmi-Zardari (see there is so much confusion in the name already) who got land benefits and became rich overnight through got knows what business. Now a person having problems trying to figure out his origins how can one expect he would deliver to people without his own identity. THINK THINK..!!
@Dr Thallo:
Every PPP supporter including me is appalled at the news that Qaim Ali Shah will be rewarded for his flawed performance in the province. Owais Muzaffar is a much better candidate.
If 90 years old Syed Qaim Ali Shah will not become Chief Minister of Sindh, then how come Owais Muzaffar (Tappi) will become defacto Chief Minister of Sindh?
@bulbull:
dear bulbul, over seven specialists (FCPS/postgraduate) one dozens general physicians were among the protestors at Karachi Press Club. The rest of others were young doctors and house job officers working at public and private hospitals and medical centers in Karachi and sub-urban areas. We do not need certification from anyone, but our main objective was to expose an elderly man who served five years in last government for nothing in the province. Our protest was not meant to appoint any specific person or candidate of our favor, but we wanted to induct the CM on merit who can deliver, which PPP government is not willing to do.
NOTE: We did not hold demo to gain cheep publicity. I am sorry, if I have hurt PPP and specially the people like you who always believe in the politics of status quo
Dear doctors you are forgetting certain political compulsions which prompted this decision. I assure you that you will have a de facto CM who is young and would ultimately be replacing him on Shah's departure. Please allow Shah pass peacefully. Do not spoil a public holiday in Sindh.
Hufff... Now this very same so called 'doctors forum' is run by a group of few people who were denied promotions, transfered and ghost doctor status. How can they pronounce someone physically or mentally 'unfit' without screening and conducting tests of Mr Shah. This is clear indication that the very same doctors protesting are so incompetent and in thier daily lives must be declaring someone 'fi't or 'unfit' on basis of thier moods not by adopting proper check ups and other neccessay procedures. GOD help them. I think these doctors need help. I asked a journalist friend who was present at press club at the time of protest and he told me majority of them were not doctors. ET must double check from its reporters and ascertain facts before this type of news goes into print. Just an advice. As I am fond of ET and its news content.
There is nothing wrong if an experienced and qualified person is being appointed as CM. I want to refer below renowned "quote" to these who oppose this decision:
"Old is Gold".