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| October 25, 2002 | Friday | Sha’aban 18,1423 |
Doctors to protest at surgeon’s arrest
ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Pakistani doctors threatened on Thursday to launch a hunger strike over the detention of a surgeon by American FBI and local intelligence agents for alleged links to Al Qaeda.
“We will go on a hunger strike from Friday if Dr Amir Aziz is not released in the next 24 hours,” Doctor Yasmeen Rashid, who heads the Doctors’ Action Committee, told AFP.
Dr Aziz, a 46-year-old orthopaedic surgeon, was picked up after leaving Ghurki Hospital in Lahore on Monday on suspicion of financing and treating Al Qaeda fugitives.
Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that he was picked up by two FBI agents and five Pakistani military intelligence agents.
They cited credible intelligence reports that he had treated Al Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden, two years ago.
Dr Aziz was still being interrogated Thursday, the officials said, but refused to reveal his whereabouts.
The Pakistan Professional Forum and the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association called the alleged links with Al Qaeda “baseless charges.”
“We strongly believe that Dr Amir Aziz is a pure professional, a great humanitarian and has nothing to do with any unlawful activities,” said Ikram Haider Khan, secretary general of Pakistan Professional Forum, in a statement.
A protest demonstration by professionals was also planned for Friday.
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