Pakistan's Balochistan: Where doctors have become targets

Ever since militants picked up five doctors from Pakistan's Balochistan province last month, nobody has any idea where they are. Kidnapping of doctors has become a common phenomenon in the troubled province, a leading daily said Sunday.

The five medics, including Dr. Nasrullah, were abducted from Killa Saifullah district June 12, the Dawn reported.

Nasrullah's 12-year-old daughter Mapara broke down while narrating the ordeal of her grief-stricken family.

"There is mourning all the time at our house. Our eyes are always turned to the gate, waiting for our father to arrive," Mapara told Dawn.

A protest was organised in the provincial capital Quetta recently by doctors against the kidnapping.

So far, little progress has been made despite continuous protests.

For more than 40 days, the families of the abducted medical professionals have been trying to make their voices heard.

The government claims to have launched a search operation near a volatile tribal belt, but the authorities appear to be clueless about where the doctors are.

Mapara is not the only affected child. Many of the abducted doctors' children are taking part in the struggle for the recovery of their fathers.

"I want my father, I appeal to the government to do something for his recovery," said Rohail Khan, son of another kidnapped doctor, Anwar Shabozai.

The daily said a senior officer of the Frontier Corps paramilitary told reporters that the doctors have been set free and seven kidnappers apprehended.

But the doctors remain missing.

The paramilitary's statement resulted in false hope for Nasrullah's family.

"There was jubilation in our house when we came to know through the media that my father was recovered," Mapara told Dawn.

Her family has little to look forward to celebrating Eid, she said.

"We haven't bought clothes or anything else for Eid," Mapara said, explaining that it was her father who took them shopping.

Kidnapping for ransom has become an attractive source of income for gangs in Balochistan. Militants previously kidnapped well-known psychiatrist Ghulam Rasool and eye specialist Saeed Khan. They were released after hefty ransoms were paid, the daily said.