Doctors in the illegally occupied region of Gilgit Baltistan on Saturday launched a strike, primarily led by young doctors, in protest of the government’s failure to address their grievances.
The main bone of contention is the government’s decision to increase the retirement age for doctors to 65, a move the protesting doctors deem draconian and unjust.
The strike, affecting both outpatient departments (OPDs) and private clinics, aims to press for a resolution and protect junior doctors’ career prospects.Dr Nasreemullah, President of the Young Doctors Association in Diamer, expressed his discontent, saying, “The assembly is there to make laws and not there to arbitrarily push draconian laws. No civil department anywhere has such a provision where a 65-year-old is allowed to serve in a government department, but, in order to profit a few, this unjust law has been brought. If something of this nature happens then resistance from people will come.”
The doctors’ protest began approximately one and a half months ago, including a two-day token strike, prompting the government to establish a committee to address their concerns.