PESHAWAR/KOHAT: Doctors held protest demonstrations in the provincial metropolis on Thursday against the killing of a medical student, Asma Rani, in Kohat and warned that if police failed to arrest the murderer within 72 hours they would shut OPDs and medical colleges across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Also, lawyers observed complete boycott of courts in Kohat and demanded quick justice for the family of the victim student.

In Peshawar, KP Young Doctors Association and KP Provincial Doctors Association (youth forum) held protest demonstrations separately outside the Peshawar Press Club and asked the government to ensure protection to doctors.

YDA president Dr Rizwan Kundi said that besides Asma Rani four doctors had been gunned down in the province during the last one year, but the police failed to arrest the killers.

He said that doctors were serving the people without any discrimination, but the government was least bothered to take appropriate steps for their security.

Demand arrest of Asma’s killer within 72 hours

He said that Asma was the latest victim and the alleged killer had fled to Saudi Arabia despite his nomination in the case.

He said that before this incident four other doctors had been killed which also included Dr Khurshid Alam of Shabqadar. He warned that they would announce province-wide boycott of duties if police did not arrest the killers within 72 hours.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Doctors Association (youth forum) led by its president Dr Hamid also condemned Asma’s murder and said that doctors and paramedical employees were ready to come on to the streets for pressing their demands concerning provision of protection to the community.

In Kohat, the district bar association observed complete boycott of courts on Thursday and demanded quick justice for the family of Asma Rani, who was killed for refusing to marry a married man. It also condemned the killing of the family of a lawyer in Balochistan.

Later in a statement, the bar president Javed Panji took exception to giving political colour to the murder of Asma by involving PTI district president Aftab Alam in it. He said that lawyers were against the brutal murder, but would not allow political point scoring in the case.

He said that the government should bring back the accused in the Asma murder case, Mujahidullah Afridi.

Meanwhile, the civil society and minority organisations at a protest in Kohat condemned the killing of a medical student, Asma Rani, by members of an influential family and demanded early justice for her family.

The protest was held by district committee on the status of women, Aurat Foundation and other civil society organisations.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018