QUETTA, July 30: Surgeon Din Mohammad Bangulzai of the Balochistan Medical College hospital, who was kidnapped a few days ago in Mastung area, reached home on Monday after being set free by kidnappers.

Family sources confirmed to Dawn that Dr Bangulzai had reached his native house in Mastung.

Dr Bangulzai was kidnapped by some armed men near the Lakpass area when he was returning to Quetta after spending weekend at his house. He was taken to an unknown location.

The kidnappers had contacted his family via phone and demanded Rs8 million ransom for his safe release.

They asked the family that they would receive the ransom money somewhere in Jacobabad district of Sindh.

“The family of the doctor did not confirm whether he was released after payment of ransom to kidnappers or the government played its role in his release,” sources in the Pakistan Medical Association said.

Doctors in Balochistan had gone on a strike in protest against the kidnapping of Dr Bangulzai.

Patients visiting government hospitals suffered a lot of difficulties because the doctors did not attend OPDs and wards.

The PMA said that doctors would attend hospitals only after the release of Dr Bangulzai.