Doctors in Baghlan hospital on strike

PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): Doctors at a government-run hospital in northern Baghlan province on Saturday went on an indefinite strike against alleged manhandling of their director by gunmen.

A doctor at the health centre in Nahrain district, Mohammad Azim, told Pajhwok Afghan News a group of gun-wielding men entered the hospital on Friday and started beating Syed Iqbal Hashimi, the hospital chief, without any reason.

He said Hafiz, who led the gunmen, was a brother of Dilawar Emaq, a Wolesi Jirga member, who represents Baghlan in the lower house. He added the incident prompted doctors to go on the unlimited strike.

Acting Public Health Director Dr. Amaruddin Ashrafi said the hospital chief had sustained injuries in the head, shoulders and hands and was being treated at the provincial civil hospital.

Attendants complained their patients were suffering due to the strike. One of them, Mohammad Hassan, said doctors did not come to examine his ailing wife.

He added the government should arrest the gunmen and advise doctors not to abandon patients. Baghlan police spokesman Javed Basharat said the incident was being investigated and efforts made to arrest those responsible and bring them to justice.

mds/ma