June 26, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424

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ABBOTTABAD, June 25: The police arrested six people and recovered arms from their possession when a house in Kehal, believed to be the hideout of the killer of a doctor of the Ayub Medical Complex, was raided on Wednesday.

Those arrested were identified as Waris Din, Dilawar, Mohammad Shaukat, Mohammad Younis, Bashir Khan and Bilal Hussain.

The police said they recovered two rifles and one mouser with many rounds from the house. Two of the detained persons are stated to be close relatives of advocate Moazzam, who is nominated in the murder of Dr Farooq Bilal.

BAR’S DEMANDS: Meanwhile, the District Bar Association, Abbottabad, in a meeting held here on Wednesday passed three unanimous resolutions, demanding registration of criminal cases against all those who had damaged public and private property during the Ayub Medical Complex doctors’ protest over the killing of their colleague.

It was further demanded that the murder cases should be registered against those doctors whose “negligence” had caused death of at least 26 patients during the strike.

The lawyers, criticizing police raids on the house of advocate Sardar Bahadar Khan, said the police had illegally taken into custody two of his family members and four employees in the raids conducted for the arrest of advocate Moazzam.

Later, a free legal aid committee was formed to provide legal aid to all relatives of those patients who had died during the doctors’ strike.

HQM: Malik Muhammad Asif, Central Chairman of Hazara Qaumi Mahaz, has demanded immediate opening of Ayub Medical Complex and filing of cases against all those whose negligence resulted in at least 15 deaths there during the doctors’ strike.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, the HQM chairman described the strike as a “planned move” as he said a tug of war was already continuing among doctors groups for grabbing higher posts. They were now planning to cash in on the current situation for personal benefit, putting the poor patients’ lives at risk in the process.

Mr Asif strongly condemned the doctor’s murder, but added that the deaths of innocent patients and rough treatment by the protesters with patients was also deplorable.

He demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

He said the principal of the college had led the protest march of students that had further flared up the issue. He wondered why not a single flowerpot was damaged at the Ayub Medical College, where the deceased doctor was a teacher, and all the damage was done to the hospital.

He said at least 50 per cent of those residing in the MO’s hostel and doctors’ hostel were outsiders, all of whom were involved in unethical activities. He said police should raid these hostels to recover weapons and narcotics.

The HQM chief also expressed his wonder as to why the doctors and professors, who observe strike in the morning, continue their private practice till late at night. This, he said, showed they had no concern with the doctor who was murdered.

He asked the government to take action or his party will take over the medical complex and provide treatment to the patients.

KKH BLOCKED: Main Karakuram Highway was blocked by angry villagers at Haveillian on Monday for at least two hours against excessive billing by Wapda.