Karachi: Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) strongly condemns the use of state force, torture and arrests of young doctors in Punjab and demands their immediate release. This was stated in a statement by Central General Secretary Professor Sohail Akhtar and President PIMA Karachi Dr Ahmed Salman Ghauri. They said that doctors across Pakistan support their Punjab colleagues' demand for regularization of their services structure which has been overlooked for quite sometimes. We consider the government primarily responsible for this crisis because it delayed acceptance of just demands of doctors, and put fuel to fire by beating and arresting them. Even the blame of strike has to be partly taken by the govt. which brought the situation to such a stage.

PIMA demands from the govt. and the protesting doctors to end this crisis by negotiations. Govt. should accept doctors’ demands, release those arrested and penalize those involved in torturing the protesting doctors. The doctors should return to work while keeping their pressure intact. Intensification of forceful means, including treating arrested doctors as criminals and barring family members and colleagues from meeting them, as is happening in Punjab, will obviously add-on to doctors' anger and will not solve the issue.

PIMA also requests the press and media not to scandalize the issue and put fuel on fire on either side; they should not escalate the blame game. Rather, they should report the facts only and discuss the issue in its totality in a justified and rational way, which should help rather than worsen the situation.

PIMA would join hands with PMA and other doctors associations in finding a sensible solution to this crisis. Punjab chapter of PIMA are already in touch with their colleagues.