Doctors of the government hospitals from across Balochistan including Quetta on Monday staged a sit-in outside the Governor House in protest against kidnapping of Doctor Saeed Ahmed Khan and many doctors sustained injuries and fell unconscious when police fired tear gas shells at their rally.
The strike of doctors in Balochistan entered 34th day on Monday creating enormous problems for poor patients, while Balochistan government issued show cause notices to at least 250 doctors for failing to join duties. The government has also decided to seal the private clinics run by the protesting doctors. Despite Balochistan government's 24-hour deadline to end the strike, the medics boycotted the OPDs, and warned that emergency wards would also be closed on 9th and 10th Muharram if authorities failed to recover Dr Saeed Khan.
The protesting doctors led by Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) President Sultan Tareen took out rally towards the Governor House in Quetta and when the rally reached near the Governor House, scuffle between police and doctors occurred when police stopped them.
The atmosphere turned violent as a heavy contingent of police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and many doctors were injured and fell unconscious. Police said they had arrested at least 200 protesting doctors. Almost 40 doctors voluntarily appeared in Civil Line police station where they were arrested. Many doctors were reported to be injured in the violent protest.
Emergency services in all government hospitals were shut on appeal of PMA Balochistan as the protesting doctors were arrested. Dr Saeed was kidnapped on October 16 from his clinic at Saryab Road, Quetta following which protests were initiated the same day. According to PMA Balochistan President Sultan Tareen, kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom to release Dr Saeed and the provincial government seems helpless in capturing the abductors.
All Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) in major hospitals in Quetta remained closed due to the absence of doctors. The situation has amalgamated the problems of patients who cannot afford to visit expensive private hospitals. However, doctors attended patients in emergency wards and private hospitals. After over a month of protesting against the abduction of their colleague, doctors have decided to extend their strike to private hospitals in troubled Balochistan province.
PMA Balochistan chapter announced Monday a boycott of their duties in the province's private hospitals. On the other hand Balochistan government has issued show cause notices to more than 60 striking doctors and sealed two private clinics in Satellite town. Deputy Commissioner Quetta said the government has requisitioned the services of army doctors for Bolan Medical Complex and Sandeman Hospital.