IN Pakistan, hardly anyone’s life or property is safe. However, belonging to certain religious groups, living in certain areas or even one’s profession can increase a person’s chances of meeting an unnatural end. Doctors are among the professionals in Pakistan that have found their security severely compromised; many leading medics have been killed in cold blood, while others have been abducted by criminals. Still others face threats from extortionists. Prof Javed Iqbal Qazi is the latest casualty. The senior physician was gunned down on Monday as he left the Karachi Medical and Dental College, where he taught. Police have termed it a targeted killing, though investigators are unsure of the motive. A respected professional, Prof Qazi was said to be the only renal and hepatic pathologist in Pakistan. Regardless of the motivation for the murder, the country has been deprived of an accomplished medical professional. Karachi isn’t the only city where doctors live under the threat of violence. A doctor was killed, apparently on sectarian grounds, in Rajanpur, Punjab in January, while last year Lahore witnessed the tragic killing of Dr Ali Haider and his young son, also reportedly gunned down by sectarian killers. Meanwhile, the kidnapping of physicians is a major concern, especially in Balochistan; cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen was released by kidnappers last year after the reported payment of a heavy ransom.

Most doctors can easily jump ship and move to lands where their lives and those of their family members will be much safer. In fact, some in the medical community have already begun planning exit strategies. Hence, doctors serving in such hostile conditions deserve society’s gratitude and extra protection from the state. It is not a pleasant thought to imagine a large-scale exodus of medical professionals from Pakistan, driven out by violence and criminality. But unless the state takes action to safeguard the lives of doctors, our best medical minds will be lost to us. As always, the common man in Pakistan will be the biggest loser.