KARACHI – Increasing cases of doctors’ kidnapping and murders especially in Sindh have caused their brain drain from the country. More than 3,000 doctors have left abroad during the last six or seven months. Brutal murder of senior neurosurgeon Prof Dr Aftab Qureshi may stimulate brain drain in the country, as the doctors are being targeted in the country but the government is unconcerned towards the issued.The lethargic behaviour of the government is causing frustration among the doctors’ community. Pathetic statement of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik is condemnable in which he said that ‘the murder of few citizens in the largest city of Pakistan is of no concern.’     These views were expressed by the leaders of Pakistan Medical Association, while talking to TheNation on Thursday. It is pertinent to mention here that health services at some of public hospitals remained suspended following the murder of Professor Aftab Qureshi. PMA Sindh has announced a three-day strike in major public hospitals of the province from May 30. Senior Neurosurgeon Professor Aftab Qureshi of Liaquat National University of Medical Health Sciences was kidnapped 22 days back for ransom and later killed.PMA Centre Secretary General Dr Azher Ali Mirza said that the government has broken all records of apathy by showing unconcerned behaviour towards the killing of doctors in the province. He said few days back, a doctor was murdered in the limits of Liaquatabad Town on sectarian grounds; doctors have become worried, angry and frustrated due to the failure of law and order in the metropolis and province as well.       PMA Centre Treasurer Dr Qaiser Sajjad said that meager law and order situation especially for doctors in the province is causing brain drain, which is in fact a great loss for the country. More than 3000 doctors have left for abroad during the last six or seven months, while 1500 doctors have given interviews to join health facilities outside the country, he said, adding that doctors need peace of mind while working in any health facility. Who will protect doctors from kidnappers, extortion mafia, terrorists etc, he questioned. “We demanded the government to protect the lives and wealth of citizens. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik should also work for the protection of citizens instead of using security force for his personal protection. In the province, doctors, engineers and judges are being targeted by criminals but the government has nothing to do with the security problems of the citizens,” he said.     Senior leader of Medical Association Sindh Dr Samrina, Young Doctor Association leader Dr Tahir Lakho, Pakistan Medical Association leader Dr Qazi Wasiq and Leader of Sindh Doctors Welfare Association Dr Nisar Ali Shah strongly condemned the murder of the professor, demanded the government to protect the precious lives of citizens. On the other hand, the Coordination Committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has also condemned the atrocious murder of the senior professor, and extended sympathies to the bereaved family members.Leaves cancelled: The Health Services Department, on the directives of KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed, has cancelled the weekly leaves of officials concerned to ensure swift and immediate cleaning of storm water drains in the city.  This action was taken to complete the cleaning of all small and major drains of Karachi before the start of coming monsoon season.Under the supervision of Senior Director Health Services Dr Shoukat Zaman, the concerned staff of Health Services Department has performing speedy cleaning of various drains including Manzoor Colony Drain, Glass Tower Drain, Nehr-e-Khyam, Orangi Nullah, Gujjar Nullah, Kalri Nullah, Pitcher Nullah and other link drains.The drain’s cleaning work was being carried out with the help of vehicles and heavy machinery of Health Services Department and the staff of district municipal administration. The concerned officials were also chalking out the strategy to remove the illegal encroachments which had been established on the edge of different city drains.The Director Health Services in this connection visited the PIDC Nullah, Urdu Bazar Nullah, Gujjar Nullah and Ziauddin Hospital Nullah along with the consultant MP Jethamal and reviewed the cleaning work.On this occasion he informed the media representatives that the drain cleaning work was being performed ahead of next monsoon season to save the citizens from any possible trouble during rains in the city.He said that the leaves of concerned staff had been cancelled so that the work could be finished in time.

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