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KARACHI, Sept 27: Doctors and paramedical staff at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Thursday boycotted the routine patient handling and surgical theatre work to protest the killing of their colleague, Dr Mubashir Ahmed Shaikh.
Dr Shaikh, a professor of clinical pathology and principal of the JPMC’s Medical Technology College, was shot by assailants outside his clinic in Manzoor Colony on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the killing of Dr Shaikh.
Zahid Ahmed Shaikh, the deceased’s brother, lodged the FIR (182/2007) against unknown assailants at the Baloch Colony police station. Police are questioning two eyewitnesses to the killing.
Dr Shaikh was shot twice in the head and the chest causing instant death at Awami Chowk in Manzoor Colony.
One of the assailants was reportedly wearing a helmet while the other had his faced covered.
On the march
The doctors’ community remained highly charged during the day. They held a march and demanded the immediate arrest of Dr Sheikh’s killers. They also resolved not to perform their duties from 9am to 10am on Friday as well.
Patients coming from different parts of the city had to suffer because of the protest. Many had to turn back home without treatment as both the doctors and paramedical staff remained absent from their duties in the OPDs, in-patient wards and surgical theatres.
Originally, it was decided that a condolence meeting would be held, but things gained such momentum that almost all the wards and diagnostic facilities were literally closed down in the afternoon.
Aggrieved doctors and paramedical nursing staff marched on the road inside the hospital and later dispersed peacefully.
The federal secretary of health will also reportedly visit the JPMC on Saturday, said a doctor.
According to a JPMC statement, Namaz-i-Janaza was held on the JPMC campus and a peaceful protest march was organized by the staff and employees of the hospital as a tribute to the departed soul.
