After protests: CM orders judicial inquiry into kidnapping of doctors

PDA president says health professionals are leaving Peshawar because of security concerns.

PESHAWAR: After a daylong protest by doctors and a meeting with the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it was decided a judicial inquiry would be launched into the doctors’ kidnapping cases.

The doctors, led by Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) President Shah Sawar, met with Chief Minister (CM)Pervez Khattak after his adviser Ziaullah Afridi promised their demands would be met.

The sit-in

Earlier on Wednesday, Sher Shah Suri Road was jam-packed as members of the PDA had organised a protest against the abduction of doctors in the province and demanded more security.

They were joined by the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), People’s Doctors Forum (PDF), Malagri Doctoran, Muslim Doctors Forum (MDF) and the Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI). Initially, they gathered at Lady Reading Hospital and started to march towards the CM House. However, they were not allowed to proceed and, instead, decided to protest on Sher Shah Suri Road, blocking traffic for hours.

PDA Vice President (VP) Dr Amir Taj told The Express Tribune the increasing kidnapping for ransom cases and lack of security arrangements for medical professionals had forced them to leave their jobs and protest. He added the murder of Professor Dr Yar Muhammad at his clinic in Swabi had spread panic among doctors across the province.

On Friday evening, a man walked into Dr Muhammad’s clinic pretending to be a patient who was there for a routine check-up. The man shot the doctor twice in the chest as he sat in his chair.

As he discussed the rise in the number of abductions, Dr Taj claimed these were a result of the government’s failure to provide adequate security measures.

A special committee of doctors had proposed a security plan but the government was not taking any steps to implement it, complained the PDA VP.

He demanded the government set up a judicial commission to expose those behind the kidnappings.

PDA President Sawar shared concerns of doctors and said they were feeling insecure because of the kidnappings and threatening letters.

He added they had great expectations from the PTI-led government and had hoped they would address their grievances.

“Many doctors have left Peshawar and settled overseas or in Islamabad and Lahore as they do not feel safe; nor do their families,” he said. “We have no other option but to protest.” Sawar shared.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2014.