25 June 2004	Friday	06 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, June 24: In protest against the disappearance, since June 17, of Dr Akmal Waheed and Dr Arshad Waheed the doctors of the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases (NICVD) suspended the OPD work on Thursday.

They also gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the authorities in which it was stated that all elective procedures like angioplasty and surgeries would be suspended if the two brothers were not accounted for by Sunday night.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Rasool Bux of the NICVD Doctors Action Committee made it clear that the medical staff of the hospital did not want to embark upon a strike. "But mind you, this is a matter of security," he said.

"You know that more than 80 doctors have been killed in recent years. Now, the Waheed brothers have disappeared. The doctors of the NICVD are in the streets today because we feel that security is the fundamental right of every citizen."

He clarified that the action committee was not against any one. "We are not against the government. We are not against any political party and the national interests are very dear to us. We only want that every doctor should be provided adequate security."

Dr Bux was of the opinion that if the security agencies had proof that Dr Akmal Waheed or Dr Arshad Waheed were involved in objectionable activities, the two should have been taken to the court.

Dr Bux pointed out that the NICVD doctors had been protesting against the disappearance in a peaceful and thoughtful manner. "Look, eight days have passed since the two doctors' disappearance. But we have been protesting in a symbolic manner by strapping black bands on our arms. That is all."

He said it was strange that the people who were supposed to have kidnapped the two brothers called their family members only once to demand 'ransom money'. "For the last eight days, there has been complete silence in this regard."

DEMONSTRATION: The doctors of the NICVD also staged a protest demonstration against the disappearance of the Waheed brothers, adds PPI. In his speech the convener of the action committee, Dr Rasool Bux, said if the missing doctors were under detention they should be produced in court and people be informed of their whereabouts as soon as possible. Later, the doctors called on the NICVD's acting director, Prof Asadullah, and told him about their demands.