KARACHI: Doctors across Karachi staged protests on Tuesday after robbers killed Dr Akash Kumar, a 28-year-old house officer at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), during a robbery in Clifton. The demonstrations called for the immediate arrest of those responsible and stronger security for healthcare professionals.

A large number of doctors gathered outside the OPD Complex at JPMC, where Dr Kumar worked, and chanted slogans demanding justice.

“We are shocked that our colleague lost his life in one of the city’s most secure areas, yet the attackers managed to escape,” said Dr Farrukh Rauf of the Young Doctors Association (YDA)-Sindh. He questioned the government’s ability to protect citizens and urged authorities to improve security for doctors.

Doctors also staged a similar protest at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), where house officers carried placards reading “Stop violence against doctors” and “Save the saviours” while demanding immediate action against the attackers.

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The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) strongly condemned the killing and urged Sindh Inspector General of Police to arrest the suspects without delay.

PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro described the incident as evidence of Karachi’s worsening law and order situation, saying even professionals were no longer safe in high-security areas.

He said Dr Kumar’s death was a tragic loss for his family, the medical community and the country. The association also called on the Sindh government and police authorities to introduce a comprehensive security strategy to protect citizens and professionals.

Later in the day, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho met Dr Kumar’s family to offer condolences. Provincial ministers Mukesh Kumar Chawla and Gianchand Israni also attended the meeting.

The officials assured the family that investigators would identify and arrest everyone involved in the killing. They said police were conducting a transparent investigation based on evidence.

Dr Kumar died on Monday after a bullet struck him during an exchange of fire between robbers and a bank security guard in Clifton. The robbers escaped with Rs2.5 million that the doctor was carrying.

South DIG Syed Asad Raza said forensic experts had confirmed that the fatal bullet came from the bank security guard’s pistol. The guard admitted firing his weapon in self-defence, and police are unlikely to pursue charges against him.

The DIG added that investigators had obtained significant clues about the robbers’ identities and were continuing efforts to arrest them.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar, who accompanied Dr Kumar and his father, Sri Chand, submitted a written statement to police seeking the registration of a murder case. In his statement, he claimed one of the robbers fired the shot that killed Dr Kumar while he sat in the back seat of the car.