08 January 2005	Saturday	26 Ziqa'ad 1425

PESHAWAR, Jan 7: Expressing deep concern and anguish over alleged rape of a lady doctor in the Sui area, Balochistan, the Pakistan Medical Association has demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and their trial in an anti-terrorism court.

"We have also convened an emergency meeting of the working council of the association in Karachi on January 12 to chalk out a programme of action in this regard," said Dr Omar Ayub Khan, Central President of the Pakistan Medical Association, at a news conference here on Friday.

Enraged by the incident, the PMA's chief wondered why a lady doctor had been posted at a basic health unit where she had no protection. Accompanied by NWFP PMA general secretary Dr Akbar Khalil, Dr Omar Ayub said that the incident had shocked and humiliated the whole doctors community across the country.

"Because of the incident lady doctors would now feel vulnerable and would not like to perform duties in remote parts of the country." Only timely action against the culprits could give some solace to women doctors who, he said, had been serving the people in remote areas of the province.

"The incident is condemnable in all respects, because it is an Islamic country where the government is responsible to provide protection to lives and honour of doctors who are performing their official duties.

"We plan to meet the president and prime minister to apprise them of our problems," said Dr Khan. He further said that the PMA had not given any ultimatum to the government, but wanted justice to be ensured to the victim immediately.

The PMA president demanded immediate arrest of all culprits involved in the abominable act and capital punishment to them by an anti-terrorism court. He called upon the federal interior minister to pay a visit to the house of the victim to express his sympathy with her and her family in these trying hours.