ننګرهار کې ډاکتران له جدي امنیتي ګواښ سره مخ دي

KABUL, JALALABAD (Pajhwok) Unknown gunmen have been threatening and extorting physicians in eastern Nangarhar province, the Physicians Defence Association (PDA) said on Sunday.

The association added at least two doctors have been threatened on daily bases and if demand for money is not met they attack the doctors.

The physicians revealed threat to themselves after a blast in the check up room of a doctor in Nangarhar in which the doctor was killed and four other people injured.

In addition, Dr. Baz Mohammad Sherzad, the former Public Health Department director and current advisor to the Public Health Ministry, was attacked in the Sara Roaud distract but he survived the attack.

Dr. Emal Hassanzai, head of the PDA told Pajhwok Afghan News at least two doctors were being threatened by unidentified gunmen on daily bases.

He said the doctors were being extorted and if they denied the armed men attack them or kidnap their family members.

Sherzad told Pajhwok  he was attacked by armed men on the Sukhab Bridge when he wanted to go back to Kabul after spending holidays at home.

He said the armed men had more demands besides asking for cash money and they carried out a blast in front of his home as well.

Sherzad who also in charge of the Public Health Ministry’s emergency department added unknown armed men had threatened him in the past as well and had some demands but he rejected their demands.

Public Health Ministry’s spokesman Waheed Majroh acknowledged health officials had been attacked and received warning in recent past in Nangarhar and other provinces of the country.

He said such activities had created difficulties for doctors and faced the health ministry with immense problems.

He acknowledged armed attack on Public Health Ministries’ Advisor Baz Mohammad Sherzad and added the issue had been shared with security officials and asked them to take action.