HYDERABAD: Pakistan Medical Association Sindh has set next 24 hours as deadline to suspend activities in all government hospitals, if the authorities concerned failed in safe recovery of kidnapped surgeons Dr. Aftab Qureshi and Dr. Faisal Iftikhar.

Addressing a news conference at Hyderabad Press Club on Monday, the Secretary PMA Sindh, Dr. Hadi Bux Jatoi, announced the holding of general body of the association to prepare further strategy to force the government for the protection of the lives of doctors.

Condemning the kidnapping of Surgeon Aftab Qureshi on his way between Karachi and Hyderabad and Dr. Faisal Iftikhar from Gulshan-e-Hadeed Karachi on Sunday evening, Dr. Hadi Bux Jatoi said that earlier armed dacoits committed dacoities in the houses of Professor Dr. Fasih Hashmi, Dr. Irshad Shah and Dr. Zahid Shaikh but no action was initiated for the arrest of culprits.

The target killing and kidnapping of doctors are on the rise, but the authorities concerned have failed to provide protection to the doctors community, he said and added that increasing incidents of killing and kidnapping has created unrest among the doctors.

He demanded the safe recovery of Surgeon Aftab Qureshi and Dr. Faisal Iftikhar within 24 hours otherwise, he warned that after the passage of time, the doctors will not discharge their responsibilities in all government hospitals of the province.

Among others, Prof. Dr. Beekha Ram, Dr. M.H. Gulzar, Dr. Waseem Shaikh, Dr. Iqbal Haroon, Dr. Attaullah Memon, Dr. Mir Muhammad Shaikh and Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Shaikh were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the all private clinics in Saddar Street and other parts of Hyderabad remained closed as mark of protest on the kidnappings. (APP)