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F'abad doctors observe token strike

RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: The doctor community observed token strike from 10 a.m. to 12-noon in almost all hospitals of the city to register its protest against the killing of Dr. Shamsul Haq, an orthopaedic surgeon of the Allied Hospital, Faisalabad.

The doctors refused to perform their duties except attending to the patients in emergency ward during the two-hour strike. Later, a joint meeting of the doctors was held to condemn the gruesome murder of Dr. Shamsul Haq.

The speakers expressed concern over the poor performance of the law-enforcement agencies and said that the people are feeling themselves unprotected. They also demanded immediate arrest and deterrent punishment to the murderers.

The participants of the meeting also condoled with the bereaved family and demanded that this murder sould not be given a religious colour and instead investigation be conducted purely on professional grounds to ensure the early arrest of the culprits.

A joint action committee headed by PMA Chairman Dr. Tufail Mohammad was also constituted to monitor the investigation of the case. Its members included Prof. Dr. Riaz Hussain (President, Pakistan Society of Surgeons), (Faisalabad chapter) President Sahal Doctors Association, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Abdullah (DHQ Faisalabad), Dr. Masood Ahmed Sheikh, (Mian Mohammad Trust Hospital), Dr. Shafique Ahmed Zahid, (Social Security Hospital), Dr. Ehsan-ul-Haq Sheikh (from private sector), Dr. Abdus Sittar Qureshi (Secretary, PMA Faisalabad).

The action committee decided that the doctors will daily observe token strike from 10 a.m. to 12-noon from January 19 to January 21.

Later, a meeting will be held outside the out-patient department of the Allied Hospital on January 21 to decide future line of action.

Dr. Shamsul Haq was reportedly abducted for ransom and later killed in his car near Khurrianwala.