Successful negotiations: Three Balochistan doctors released in North Waziristan

The medics were kidnapped from Loralai district of Balochistan in June.

MIRANSHAH/ QUETTA/ BANNU:

Three doctors, who were abducted from Balochistan on June 13, 2013, were released by the kidnappers in North Waziristan Agency on Saturday.

An official of the political administration from Mirali Tehsil of the agency said that Dr Nasrullah Ghilzai, Dr Muhammad Anwer Shabozai and Dr Ayaz Ahmed – had been kidnapped from the Loralai district of Balochistan and taken to North Waziristan.

“After successful negotiations with the kidnappers, the doctors were released near Khajori area of Mirali and handed over to the political administration officials of Frontier Region (FR) Bannu, who shifted them to the Bannu Circuit House,” the official said.

“Dr Ghilzai,  Dr Shabozai, Dr Ayaz Ahmed and two others – a clerk and a driver – were on their way to Zhob to participate in the funeral prayer of Dr Aleem Taj when armed men had kidnapped them. However, on August 27, the driver and  the clerk were released by their kidnappers in Balochistan, while the doctors were shifted to North Waziristan Agency and were released after negotiations,” said Malik Noorullah Shabozai who played an important role in their release.

Talking to the media, Shabozai said the doctors have been released ‘unconditionally’, and as a gesture of ‘goodwill’.

“We have been released after a series of negotiations,” said Dr Ayaz Ahmad, adding that they would return to their areas and resume their duties.

The doctors stated that they were thankful to their relatives as well as to Malik Noorullah Shabozai for playing a useful role in the negotiations.

Protest over kidnapping of cardiologist

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Saturday expressed concern over the mounting number of kidnappings of doctors and demanded recovery of heart specialist Dr Munaaf Tareen.

The association announced that it would protest by observing a three-hour strike of OPDs in all government hospitals from September 23.

PMA Balochistan president Dr Sultan Tareen said “The Supreme Court has taken notice of the kidnapping of doctors and ordered the provincial government to provide them security.” He said the doctors were not against of any political party or group. “We are fighting against the culprits behind this crime.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2013.