GUJRAT: The outpatient departments of all government and private hospitals in Gujrat suspended services on Friday in protest at the police’s failure to trace and arrest the suspects involved in the cold-blooded murder of a doctor.

The strike was called by the Gujrat chapters of the Pakistan Medical Association and the Young Doctors Association following the expiration of the initial deadline for arresting the suspects by Thursday morning.

Dr Zeeshan Anwar, associate professor at Kharian CMH Medical College, was killed by two unidentified motorcyclists near the Rescue 1122 station along old GT Road in the civil lines police precincts.

The incident occurred as he was waiting for a friend on his way to duty Tuesday morning.

The PMA said on Friday that the strike in the OPDs would continue on Saturday (today). The PMA also demanded that the investigation into the case be conducted by a high-ranking police officer.

Police sources said CCTV footage showed the suspects heading towards Wazirabad after the assassination of Dr Zeeshan. However, tracing their further whereabouts has been challenging for the police.

Different teams are working around the clock on this high-profile case, following leads, and there is a hope for success in the case. Civil society activists expressed concern over the broad daylight murder and urged the Punjab government to take decisive action against lawlessness in the area.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2023