The All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation (APPSF), Provincial Sandeman Hospital Quetta, has issued a statement condemning the kidnapping of Dr. Muhammad Ismail, an orthopedic doctor in training at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Karachi. Dr. Ismail was reportedly abducted by unidentified individuals from his home on November 11, 2023.
In their statement, Federation President Jamal Shah Kakar, General Secretary Hafiz Muhammad Usman Zehri, and Chairman Karim Agha expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of doctors’ kidnappings. They noted with alarm the absence of any information about Dr. Ismail’s whereabouts since his abduction. The Federation emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to ensure the safety of medical professionals.
President Kakar highlighted the risks faced by healthcare providers, especially in the context of their frontline role against diseases like Congo fever and COVID-19. He warned that the Federation is prepared to initiate a boycott of services and a countrywide protest if Dr. Ismail is not safely recovered and returned promptly. Responsibility for any such escalation, he stated, would fall on the Government of Sindh.
The statement concluded with a call to action for the Caretaker Chief Minister of Balochistan, urging the Balochistan government to actively engage in Dr. Ismail’s recovery. The Federation also demanded coordination with the Government of Sindh to facilitate the doctor’s swift and safe return.