17 doctors killed in Karachi last year

Karachi
Seventeen doctors were killed in Karachi last year, bringing the total number of health practitioners targeted between 2010 and 2014 to 54.
The figures were disclosed in a report by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Friday.
The majority of doctors were killed in Karachi on sectarian basis, refusal to pay extortion or ransom, personal disputes, ethnic issues and associations with political parties. The PMA report also stated the names of the doctors slain in Karachi during the past year.
Fourteen health practitioners were killed 2013; 11 in 2012; four in 2011; and eight in 2010. No figures have been given for the period between 2005 and 2009. Three doctors were killed in 2004; two in 2003; seven in 2002; 13 in 2001; six in 2000; seven in 1999; four in 1998; 13 in 1997; six in 1996; and eight in 1995.
Another 17 doctors became victims of target killing between 1990 and 1994. A total of 140 doctors have been killed from 1990 till 2014, excluding the figures from 2005 to 2009.
PMA Secretary General Dr Mirza Ali Azhar talking to PPI said the doctors of Karachi had been left at the mercy of terrorists and extortionists. "Not a single arrest has been made so far."
He said the PMA had knocked every door to curd the killings of doctors but nobody was ready to play their role. "We have lost our patience and decided to change the strategy."
Azhar said Dr Arif Mustafa Siddiqui was slain on December 20 and the Sindh IGP ordered the Karachi AIG to meet the PMA representatives. "No official has contacted the PMA yet. No compensation has been paid to the bereaved families and no political party is ready to raise the issue at any platform."
He warned the PMA would take strong action if any doctor was killed in the future. "We are considering boycotting hospitals, staging sit-ins, going on hunger strikes and will use all other options if the killings are not stopped."
The new year also began with a target killing of a doctor. Dr Ahsan Ali, a 50-years-old pediatrician was targeted right outside his clinic near Bismillah Chowk in Saeedabad.