QUETTA, May 22: Seven staff members of the Khuzdar Civil Hospital and an SHO were injured in a clash with police on Tuesday.

The district president of the Pakistan Medical Association claimed that two senior doctors and five other employees had been injured in firing. However, official sources said no incident of firing had taken place.

“No one was injured in firing. All people were injured when police used batons during the clash,” Khuzdar DCO Sher Khan Bazai told Dawn.

The injured were identified as Surgeon Bashir Ahmed, Dr Jalil Ahmed, Habib Baloch, Ghulam Rasool, Mohammad Naeem, Ghulam Hussain and Rehmatullah.

“The condition of Habib Baloch is said to be critical. He received multiple injuries,” said hospital sources. They claimed that he had received bullet injuries.

Police sources said SHO Talib Hussain had exchanged harsh words against some doctors alleging negligence in providing treatment to an injured person.

Doctors and the paramedical staff observed a strike.

PMA district president Dr Shafi Danish said that the strike would be observed for an indefinite period in the district.

Traders also closed their shops and activists of different political parties held a demonstration in protest against the police action.

District Nazim Sardar Naseer Ahmed Mosiani, Tehsil Nazim Asif Jamaldini and DPO Babar Gul visited the hospital and held talks with the medical superintendent in an effort to resolve the issue.