The Balochistan Young Doctors Association (YDA) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the provincial government, threatening to stage a sit-in in front of the Red Zone if their demands are not addressed. Speaking at a press conference at Civil Hospital Quetta alongside other leaders, YDA President Dr Hai Baloch stated that the protest camp set up in solidarity with Dr Mah Noor has now completed 22 days, yet the government has taken no practical steps to fulfill their demands.
Demands and Accusations
Dr Hai Baloch emphasized that if their demands violate the Constitution or law, the government should clearly point it out. He added that all doctors, under the platform of the Grand Doctors Alliance, have adopted a joint strategy and will continue their peaceful struggle until the demands are met. The primary demand of the YDA is the removal of the Secretary of Health and the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Civil Hospital Quetta.
Dr Baloch alleged that instead of acting on the demands, the government appointed a junior officer to a senior position in the hospital and failed to take effective action in cases of alleged corruption. He also claimed that a police official recently attacked a doctor at the Trauma Center while allegedly under the influence of drugs, but no effective legal action has been taken against those responsible.
Protest Plans
Dr Baloch announced that if the government does not accept their demands, doctors will hold a protest sit-in in front of the Red Zone at 12pm on Monday. He stressed that the protest would remain completely peaceful, though its scope could be expanded if the demands continue to be ignored.
Condemnation of Violence
Dr Bahar Shah, another leader, strongly condemned the entry of armed individuals into hospitals, saying it was unacceptable under any circumstances. He accused the government of complicating the issues rather than resolving them and demanded immediate legal action against those involved in the Trauma Center incident. Questioning the government's narrative, Dr Bahar Shah asked whether doctors were involved in the acid attack incident at Civil Hospital.
