LARKANA, Jan 28: Doctors’ token boycott of outpatient departments of Chandka Medical College Hospital and its allied institutions and token hunger strike in protest against the kidnapping of Dr Abdul Rab Sangi and his driver Wajid Sangi on Nov 23 entered the 69th day on Saturday.

Dr Sangi and his driver were kidnapped while performing duty during an anti-polio drive in the Arija area.

Since the kidnapping of their colleague, doctors have been protesting on and off throughout the province but to no avail.

Doctors and paramedics have continued the protest to mount pressure on police to recover the kidnapped doctor and his driver.

The call for protest was given by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Larkana chapter, and Chandka Teachers Association (CTA).

On Saturday, doctors and paramedics led by PMA leader Dr Saeed Memon, and CTA president Dr Akbar Soomro, staged a march from the CMCH (city block) to the press club.

They demonstrated against police failure to recover the hostages and said every passing moment was adding to anxiety among the kidnap victims’ relatives and doctors’ fraternity.

Larkana SSP Aitzaz Goraya had assured Dr Sangi father Prof Mohammad Siddique Sangi of his son’s safe recovery within a couple of days when he met the police official on Friday, according to a relative of Dr Sangi.

“We are still waiting when his assurance proves true,” he said.

PMA leader Dr Memon told this correspondent that they had started disbelieving police’s promises because their efforts were proving to be unproductive.

Police had been clueless about the whereabouts of the kidnapped doctor and his driver for over two months, he said.

He said that in a recent meeting with PMA leaders and Dr Sangi’s relatives Larkana DIG Dr Saeen Rakhiyo Mirani had indicated police had reached close to the kidnappers and expressed hope the doctor and his driver would be freed soon.

“But we are still waiting for their recovery,” he said.

Dr Sangi’s father had disclosed a week ago that the kidnappers had phoned him and demanded Rs4 million ransom for his son’s release but “being a retired teacher I can not afford to pay such a huge amount.”