PNN: Doctors in KP warned on Wednesday that they would expand their protest to the entire province if their demands were not met, as the boycott of elective services in hospitals continued in southern districts and parts of Mardan division following the killing of Dr Mehwish Hasnain.
Dr Mehwish, a lady doctor serving at the District Headquarters Hospital, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while returning home after completing her duty. The incident occurred on the double road in the Kohat Development Authority area, near the hospital premises, on Sunday. Reports indicate that the attackers opened indiscriminate fire on her as she traveled in a rickshaw, killing her on the spot before fleeing the scene.
The killing, which reportedly stemmed from a minor altercation when an attendant reportedly blocked Dr Mehwish’s path and then shot her, prompted immediate backlash from the medical community. Young Doctors Association (YDA) Kohat, along with support from doctors in Bannu and other areas, declared a ‘Black Ribbon Day’ and suspended emergency and routine services in hospitals in protest.
The YDA is boycotting services in hospitals of the southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Upper and Lower South Waziristan, and in the Mardan Division districts of Mardan, Nowshera, and Swabi. Meanwhile, the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) is carrying out only a two-hour protest boycott in hospitals in southern districts of the province.
YDA Khyber President Dr Asfandyar said the issue had escalated beyond security concerns to the protection of life itself, and that the provincial government had failed in its duty to protect doctors. “The entire responsibility for the killing of doctors lies with the provincial government,” he said.
He warned that if demands were not addressed, the protest would be extended across all hospitals in the province, with the Chief Minister’s House and Adiala Jail serving as centres for sit-ins and demonstrations.
Elective services remain suspended in southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat, while outpatient departments in some hospitals in Mardan and Nowshera have also been closed. Dr Asfandyar said emergency services would not be affected, adding that the phased approach was being maintained out of consideration for patients. “Considering the difficulties faced by patients, the protest is being conducted in phases,” he said.
The YDA had announced the boycott during a press conference in Peshawar on Tuesday, citing the failure of the provincial government to provide security and basic facilities in hospitals.
Dr Asfandyar had argued that the lack of facilities at Kohat hospital directly contributed to Dr Mehwish’s death, saying the incident could have been avoided had proper facilities been available. He criticised provincial ministers and MPAs for prioritising photo opportunities over substantive action. “If beds are unavailable in LRH, the Bolton Block remains empty and could be used, yet the chief minister only visits for photo sessions,” he said.
Protests have been coordinated with the PDA and other medical bodies. Representatives met with Provincial Health Minister Khaleeq-ur-Rehman and Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan in an emergency session on Tuesday to demand the registration of a departmental FIR against Dr Mehwish’s killers under terrorism-related clauses, implementation of a martyr package for her family, and enforcement of the Health Care Security Act 2020.
Rehman and Khan expressed condolences to Dr Mehwish’s family and the medical community, assuring that the government would take all necessary legal and administrative measures to ensure the safety of healthcare staff. “The responsible individuals will be brought to justice and effective, sustainable measures will be taken for the protection of doctors,” the minister said.
Representatives from the Insaaf Doctors Forum also participated in the meeting, where the minister assured that demands were being taken seriously and that relevant authorities had already been instructed to act. The officials also committed to reviewing security arrangements in hospitals across the province and taking immediate steps to improve them.