QUETTA – The Pakistan Medical Association Balochistan Chapter has decided to convene All Parties Conference (APC) and the office-bearers are considering the option of tendering collective resignations in protest against the non-recovery of Dr Saeed Khan and repeated incidents of kidnapping.
The PMA has accelerated its efforts of contacting political parties, lawyers and other organisations to hold the conference, highlighting the pathetic state of affairs of Balochistan doctors.
Eye specialist Dr Saeed Khan was kidnapped from Quetta by armed men on October 16, while the authorities concerned are still clueless about the kidnappers, despite the Balochistan High Court has taken serious notice of the matter.
A meeting of the PMA Balochistan was held here on Tuesday with PMA Balochistan president Dr Sultan Tareen in chair. The meeting thoroughly discussed the non-recovery of the kidnapped doctor and future course of action. The PMA members expressed their serious concerns over the situation and lashed out at the government for its inability to recover the kidnapped doctor. They also unanimously agreed to continue their strike in the hospitals and decided to call an APC to address the issue of doctors. The meeting also formed five committees which would contact with all political parties, lawyers’ organisations and trade unions across the province.
The PMA spokesman said that a general body meeting would be called on November 1 (tomorrow) to ponder over the option of collective resignations, adding that until now as many as 470 doctors had tendered their resignations to the PMA Balochistan. He said if the government did not provide security to doctors and Dr Saeed Khan was not recovered, the PMA Balochistan would tender resignations collectively.
Meanwhile, doctors continued their boycott at government-run hospitals against the non-recovery of Dr Saeed Khan.
All Outdoor Patients Departments (OPDs) and operation theatres at Quetta Sandeman Civil Hospital, Bolan Medical Complex, Hospital and other medical centres remained closed. The PMA Balochistan chapter had given strike call throughout the province. However, the doctors attended patients at emergency wards, while the patients were compelled to turn towards private hospitals to get treatment.
The PMA Balochistan says over 25 doctors have been killed and over 16 kidnapped for ransom. However, no culprit has been brought to the book.