KARACHI, Jan 10: The doctor community has expressed its serious concern over the reported kidnapping of Dr Hamid Memon from his clinic in Malir area.

A protest meeting was held at the Sindh Government Hospital, Saudabad, on Thursday. A large number of doctors and paramedics attended the meeting and demanded immediate recovery of the victim. The meeting decided that doctors would be wearing black armbands while on duty until Dr Memon was recovered.

According to reports, armed men struck his clinic in Soomar Goth, Malir, and whisked him away in a car on Tuesday night. His dispenser was attacked and critically injured by the kidnappers. A senior doctor apprehended that Dr Memon might have been kidnapped for ransom.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Karachi, has also urged the government to ensure safe recovery of the doctor.

In a statement issued on Thursday, PMA general secretary Dr Samrina Hashmi demanded immediate and effective steps by the government for the safe recovery of Dr Memon, adding that safety and security of doctors be ensured on a priority basis.

The PMA condemned the growing trend of attacks and trouble caused to the medical community over the last few months, and recalled that a senior doctor had been kidnapped in the same area for ransom.

“Under such insecure conditions, it is not possible for doctors to render their services to the community for providing solace to sufferer. The situation is a source of mental agony to doctors and many of them are forced to opt for a job abroad,” the PMA statement said, warning that the shortage of skilled and trained medical professionals might worsen if the situation persisted.