Under threat: Another healthcare professional gunned down in Peshawar

Police say they have registered an FIR and are investigating the attack. They ruled out sectarianism as the reason.

PESHAWAR: In yet another attack on a member of the healthcare fraternity, a physician was gunned down by unknown motorcyclists in Gulberg area of Peshawar on Monday afternoon.

Dr Arshad Khan, 57, was on his way home when unknown motorcyclists opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.

Police said that Dr Khan was an anesthesia specialist working at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). His family told the police that the victim had no personal enmity.

“The man belongs to DI Khan and was at least 57 years old who had no enmity with any one and it is not sectarianism either,” said a police official. An FIR has been registered and police said they were investigating the matter.

“It is mysterious because it looks like a targeted killing since a 9 mm pistol has been used in the attack,” the police official argued.

Doctors in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have voiced concern over the precarious security situation in recent times including kidnappings and extortion threats. The situation has prompted many healthcare professionals to contemplate moving out of Peshawar for safety.

Last week, doctors staged a token strike in hospitals after the head of Medical C-ward at the LRH was kidnapped on December 3. Many others have reported receiving threats to pay extortion.