PESHAWAR, Jan 10: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Tuesday expressed concern over the killing of local senior cardiologist Dr Mohammad Jamal and demanded protection of doctors and their families.

Dr Jamal was found dead on January 7 in Jamrud area of Khyber Agency almost two months after kidnapping.

President YDA Dr Alamgir Khan told a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club that doctors deserved protection by the government for beingregular taxpayers.

He demanded installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at hospitals in the province and deployment of trained security personnel there for medical practitioners' safety.

Dr Alamgir said doctors felt insecure due to growing incidents of kidnapping for ransom and killings in the province. He regretted that the YDA's suggestions to the relevant authorities for the doctors' security had fallen ondeaf ears.He also complained of discrimination against young doctors in provision of residential facility and demanded corrective measures.

'The government had planned to establish VVIP treatment centre (Bacha Khan Block) at Lady Reading Hospital by demolishing female doctors' hostel and forced lady doctors to stay in male doctors' hostels,' he said.

He said lady doctors' hostel was pulled down to construct operation theatre block but now a centre for the treatment of VVIPs was being established in its place.

The president PDA declared imposition of tax on the doctors' honorary stipend unjustified, saying no such tax exists in other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, doctors of the city's all three government-run teaching hospitals continued their strike for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to protest the killing of Dr Jamal.

The strike was observed on the call of the Provincial Doctors' Association(PDA) at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex.

President PDA Dr Shah Sawar told Dawn that the strike would also be observed today (Wednesday) and that a meeting of the association's executive body would also be held in the day to decide future line of action.

He said doctors at private clinics in the city also went on a strike in the day and that the health department officials were in contact with PDA officebearers on the matter.

Dr Shah said doctors didn't want patients to suffer but the strike had become a compulsion as they felt insecure and wanted protection against kidnapping and killing.

He, however, said emergency cover was being provided to visitors to criti cal care units, intensive care units and operation theatres of teaching hospitals and periphery health units.

When asked he said, 'I cannot confirm whether the strike will continue.