QUETTA – The ongoing strike of doctors against Dr Saeed Khan’s kidnapping entered the 9th consecutive day on Thursday. The eye specialist was kidnapped by armed men on October 16 when he was heading towards his home in Sariab area.

The Pakistan Medical Association has announced the strike to exert pressure on the government and authorities concerned for early release of Dr Saeed. All the Outdoor Patient Departments (OPDs) in main state-run hospitals of the provincial capital, including Helper’s Hospital, Bolan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Fatima Jinnah TB Sanatorium and Sandeman Hospital, wore a deserted look, as no doctor was present to provide medical assistance to the patients. No surgery was performed at operation theatres that doubled the miseries of poor patients. However, doctors attended patients at emergency wards, private hospitals and clinics.
The ongoing strike is posing immense difficulties for the poor patients, as over 90 per cent of the population visits the government hospitals for medical aid. “The government should take steps for the recovery of the kidnapped doctor, besides making doctors responsible to provide treatment to patients regularly as leaving the poor patients in lurch in the name of strike is inhumane,” said Younas Khan who visited the Civil Hospital for his brother’s treatment.
Saeed’s family sources said the kidnappers were demanding a huge ransom for releasing the doctor. However, they denied disclosing the actual amount of ransom. The law enforcement agencies seem to be clueless about the kidnappers so far.
The Balochistan High Court has also taken notice of the kidnapping and directed the authorities concerned for taking concrete steps to ensure recovery of the doctor. PMA spokesman Dr Aftab regretted that over 12 doctors including PMA chairman Mazar Khan Baloch have been killed in Balochistan during the last four years. He said that previously 13 doctors were kidnapped, and most of them were released after the ransom amount was paid to the kidnappers. He regretted the government could do nothing to get released any kidnapped doctor and at the same, failed to arrest the kidnappers.