May 30, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428

LAKKI MARWAT, May 29: Local chapters of the Paramedical Association and the Pakistan Doctors’ Association on Tuesday held a protest demonstration against the government’s failure to recover the kidnapped officials of the health department.

Lakki Marwat District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Ishaq Khan and Deputy District Officer Dr Abdul Rehman Marwat were kidnapped near Bakhmal Ahmadzai on May 26 with their vehicle and driver Anwaruddin. Doctors, paramedics and employees of health institutions in the district held a protest march from the DHQ hospital to the District Headquarters Complex at Tajazai, where employees of other departments and local people joined them.

The protesters held a meeting in front of the district coordination officer’s office. The speakers on the occasion condemned the kidnapping and snatching of a car from another doctor, Ghulam Nabi.

They demanded adequate measures for security of health officials and regretted that the district nazim and the DCO had not visited the hospital and the district health office to express sympathy with the doctors.

District Nazim Humayun Saifullah Khan and DCO Amir Latif assured the protesters that all possible efforts would be made for the release of the kidnapped officials.

The district authorities were in contact with the provincial authorities in this regard, they said.

They called upon the doctors and other health department employees to perform their duties without fear.