Diaspora criticises govt for failing to protect doctors in Pakistan

MANCHESTER: The largest organisation of Pakistani doctors in the United Kingdom has criticised the government of Pakistan for its failure to provide security to doctors who face threats to their lives on a daily basis from different elements.
The call came at the summer gala dinner of the Association of Pakistani Physicians & Surgeons (APPS UK) here which was attended by more than one thousands doctors of Pakistani origin and their families.
The aim of the organisation set up eight years ago is to provide humanitarian aid and medical facilities to the people in Pakistan as well as assist Pakistani doctors who come to the UK from Pakistan.
Dr Muhammad Iqbal, the president of the APPS UK regretted that doctors in Pakistan were being, kidnapped, threatened, pressurised and killed by the outlaws who didn’t fear the law as the government seemed helpless and like a silent spectator. “The killing of doctors should not go unnoticed. We will not tolerate this situation, we appeal to the government to end its silence over this serious issue and ensure that the professional doctors can carry out their work,” appealed Dr Iqbal.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, said Pakistan was facing war-like situation and every aspect of life was affected by this situation.
“Victims of terrorism are from all backgrounds and everyone has made sacrifices in the war against terror. Pakistani government is fully supportive of the objectives Pakistani doctors have and the government is ready to extend every kind of help to Pakistani doctors to help the people back home,” he said in his address.
Dr Abdul Hafeez, Founder of the APPS UK, briefed the audience about the 25 active projects the organisation has in the UK and Pakistan. He said that Pakistani doctors are a very conscious community who believe in helping the country which equipped them with the professional medical knowledge in the first place.
He updated that APPS UK was running different campaigns in Pakistan as part of its commitment towards the homeland.
Dr Altaf Khattak spoke about millions of street children of Pakistan who he described as “the most neglected group” who need their childhood back.
Mr Sajjad Karim MEP said that friends of Pakistan in the European Parliament have launched a new 5-year programme for Pakistan with a dedicated chapter for health which aims to deliver good health for Pakistan. He said that Pakistan can be helped by its diaspora communities through providing help in individual and collective capacities.