MN Report
ISLAMABAD – The head of Cardiology Department at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad Professor Shahid Nawaz succumbed to his injuries after life support was removed. The professor was shot in the head by unknown assailants in hospital premises last Saturday. The bullet damaged left side of his skull. Dr Nawaz, 57, was leaving the hospital and going to his car, which was parked near the cardiology department, when he was attacked at around 3:30 pm.
Another distinguished neurosurgeon Dr Sami Ullah chaudhary was shot dead near Sahiwal bringing the number of doctors killed to 20 since last one month. If this continues and the government fails to take effective measure, where will all this lead to.
The VC of PIMS Professor Javed Akram said that doctors are protected under Geneva convention and were given protection even during World War I and II so what is happening now. It is a matter of grave concern that such senior medical practitioners are being targeted causing huge loss to the country.
The doctors at the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) tried their level best to save his life but failed to do so.
Meanwhile Young Doctors Association (YDA) and Medical practitioners of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) staged protest in the hospital against attack on Prof Shahid Nawaz who succumbed to his injuries on Friday, Dr Shahid Nawaz was the head of the hospital’s cardiology unit. He was shot in the head outside the VIP ward.
The two gunmen escaped from the hospital unhindered. There is no footage of the attackers as the CCTV cameras installed at the hospital were out-of-order as usual, an official at the hospital added.
Dr Nawaz had worked with PIMS for the last eight years. He was appointed head of cardiology two years ago. Nawaz has four daughters and two sons.
The attack was the second-targeted attack at the hospital in three weeks. Earlier, a 22-year-old nursing student was shot on the premises on January 23.
Addressing the protesters, speakers demanded the government to immediate arrest those who are behind the attack on Dr Shahid and ensure proper security to doctors working with the hospital.
They said that the concerned quarters should ensure making peaceful working atmosphere for medical staff at hospitals as doctors are those who safe precious lives daily but now their lives are on threat.
Seniors doctors Dr Khaliqul Zaman and Dr Wasim Khawaja and representatives of Young Doctors Association (YDA), Dr Asfandyar and Dr Farooq also spoke on the occasion.