Demanding arrest: PMA continues protest after attack on doctor

Association to hold hunger strike till attacker is arrested and SSP is transferred.

RATODERO: Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) remained completely closed due to the strike observed by Pakistan Medical Association doctors who are demanding the transfer of Larkana SSP and the arrest of culprits involved in the attack on Dr Partab Rai.

The protesting doctors staged a sit-in at SSP roundabout at 10:30am which continued till 2pm. The protesters gathered at the PMA office in the Civil Hospital block of the CMCH Larkana and marched through the VIP road and reached the SSP roundabout. They held a large demonstration and staged a sit-in holding banners and shouting slogans against the police and the government.

The sit-in was called off when newly-posted ASP City visited the doctors and assured them that the government would transfer SSP Khalid Mustafa Korai and the accused will be taken to task. After that, the doctors resumed their duties but PMA president Dr Shah Baig Chandio said that that their token strike will continue till their demands were accepted.

The protesters were joined by senior professors, associate professors and consultants of Chandka Medical College and Aseefa Dental College paramedics on Tuesday morning. The protest was also supported by all CMCH paramedics, All Pakistan Clerks Association, Chandka Teachers Association, Hindu Panchyat, Awami Tehreek, JSQM and civil society members of Larkana.

Due to the boycott, dozens of patients suffered as all operation theaters, laboratories, ultrasounds, telephone exchanges, main and sub-medical stores and OPDs remained closed. Only the Accident and Emergency Centre was allowed to function to provide emergency treatment. The PMA has also announced that private clinics of all consultants and general practitioners in Larkana district remained closed on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2014.