KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has issued a strong condemnation of the Punjab police's violent assault on healthcare workers who were peacefully protesting for their lawful rights. In a press release issued today, the PMA described the incident as an “unprecedented and unacceptable escalation of violence” against those who serve the nation’s health system.
The shocking event, involving beatings and physical abuse of doctors, nurses, and paramedics, has triggered outrage across the medical fraternity nationwide. Visuals and reports from the protest site indicate that police forces used brutal force, injuring several professionals and lodging an FIR against one doctor for voicing support for workers' rights.
“This barbaric act represents a callous disregard for the wellbeing of those on the frontlines of healthcare delivery,” stated Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, Secretary General of PMA. “Healthcare professionals were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and demanding fair treatment. Instead, they were met with sheer brutality.”
The PMA has presented a set of urgent demands to the Punjab government, including:
Immediate withdrawal of the baseless FIR against the doctor.
A transparent and independent inquiry into the police violence.
Medical care and compensation for injured healthcare workers.
Genuine dialogue with healthcare representatives to resolve long-standing issues related to job security, service structure, and working conditions.
Concrete guarantees ensuring the safety of all healthcare professionals during protests.
PMA leadership emphasized that the legitimate demands of healthcare workers must be addressed through engagement—not intimidation. They called upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan, human rights organizations, and civil society to take urgent notice of the incident.
“The PMA will not stand by silently. We will pursue all available avenues for justice and accountability,” said Dr. Shoro. “We stand in unwavering support of our healthcare heroes in Punjab.”
