LARKANA/KARA-CHI: The Pakistan Medi-cal Association (PMA) has condemned the death threats to a lady doctor in Larkana and called for immediate action against the culprits.

In a press statement, the association stated that threat to the life of PMA Larkana President Dr Dayali Gul was unacceptable. “Violence against healthcare workers is intolerable, and those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” it said.

The association urged the government to take immediate and decisive action to arrest the culprits behind threatening posture and confrontation. “It is essential for the authorities to ensure safety and security of healthcare professionals across the country,” it added.

Dr Dayali Gul, who runs her private medical centre in Nawatak locality, confirmed to Dawn on Wednesday that three Magsi clansmen had visited her clinic on Aug 15 and then 23 along with a heavily pregnant woman who was wife of one of the men but since the patient had low platelet count and anuria she was referred to SIUT Karachi on Aug 25, she said.

She said that instead of shifting her to SUIT the attendants took the patient to Liaquat National Hospital Karachi where she expired.

“The patient’s relatives came to meet me on Sept 5 when I was in Karachi. Again on Sept 15 three men including the husband of the patient visited my clinic and blamed that I had killed their patient. They kept on shouting and hurling insults at me, demanding payment of Rs3 million fine,” she said.

Dr Gul said that they also demanded that she seek pardon and visit their village for forgiveness which she refused. “They shouted at me and threatened me with dire consequences. They said they will not allow her to run the clinic peacefully and threatened to kill me.”

They said that they would return to Jhal Magsi away from the reach of police and plan to kill her. “I told them I am present here to face any inquiries by any medical board or court. Why are you going back to come again, I am standing before you. Do whatever you want I will not bows to your threats,” she said.

They returned to clinic on Sept 15 at around 7 pm and left at 8:30 pm and as soon as they left “I called the SSP who immediately deputed SHO Dari to meet me. Later, the SSP deployed two guards at my clinic,” she said.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024