A view of a deserted government hospital in Quetta. – File Photo by INP

QUETTA: Even after the release of Doctor Saeed Ahmed Khan, patients’ anguish continued in Balochistan as the doctors’ community on Thursday declined to resume duties in the government hospitals which they stopped on October 16 in protest against the kidnapping.

Unknown kidnappers released the eye specialist on Wednesday after keeping him hostage for over six weeks.

The news of his safe release made the citizens breathe a sigh of relief as now they started to expect that the doctors will resume their duties in hospitals. However, on Thursday, they refused to end the strike.

Speaking to media representatives, Pakistan Medical Association Balochistan President Dr Sultan Tareen said the doctors will not end their strike unless the provincial government withdraws suspension orders of the doctors and all the cases registered against them during the strike.

Meanwhile, Young Doctors Association Balochistan also announced to support PMA call for continuing the strike until government meets their demands.

Opinion

Editorial

Pakistan’s moment
Updated 20 Jun, 2026

Pakistan’s moment

Pakistan’s diplomats are second to none, and if these states seek to engage this country constructively, a new modus vivendi for the subcontinent can be reached.
Menacing water plans
20 Jun, 2026

Menacing water plans

IN April last year, India suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, which contains no provision allowing it to...
World Refugee Day
20 Jun, 2026

World Refugee Day

WORLD Refugee Day, observed today around the globe, marks 75 years since the adoption of the 1951 convention ...
Digital deal
19 Jun, 2026

Digital deal

THINGS have moved rapidly where the Iran-US memorandum of understanding is concerned. While the physical document ...
Failing the public
19 Jun, 2026

Failing the public

WHETHER it is Sindh’s struggle to secure clean drinking water or Balochistan’s difficulty in improving the...
Crushed lives
19 Jun, 2026

Crushed lives

COURTS and commissions have often been up in arms over the health and ecological hazards associated with...