QUETTA: Doctors’ strike in Balochistan continued on eighteenth day, despite the release of the prominent psychiatrist and senior professor of the Bolan Medical College hospital Dr Ghulam Rasool Kakar by the alleged kidnappers, DawnNews reported.

The Balochistan chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had said that their strike would continue until the authorities recovered the kidnapped doctor.

Despite the release of Dr Kakar the doctors in the province did not resume their duties.

Emergency services in all hospitals remained suspended and OPDs were closed for the last two weeks in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Earlier, the president of the Balochistan chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Dr Sultan Tareen, had confirmed Dr Kakar’s release and said he had reached his home. Family sources also confirmed his release.

Dr Kakar was kidnapped on August 1 from the Brewery Road area when he was going to his clinic from Killi Ibrahimzai.

Talking to reporters, Kakar said his hands and feet had been tied with ropes by the kidnappers. “I spent very painful days during captivity,” he said.

It was not known if Dr Kakar was released after payment of ransom or because of intervention by influential tribal elders.