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Doctors in Pakistan Province Stage Strike to Press Demands Amid Virus
Outbreak

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Doctors and medical staff in Pakistan's southwestern
   Baluchistan province stayed away from official duties for a second day
   Tuesday to protest a lack of protective equipment to treat COVID-19
   patients and demand permanent jobs.

   Hundreds of young medics took to the streetsMondayin the provincial
   capital, Quetta, despite a ban on such gatherings aimed at limiting the
   spread of coronavirus in the province. Protesters said riot police used
   force to disperse the rally and briefly detained around 50 rally
   participants.

   A provincial government spokesman said the doctors were freed the same
   day,but amajorityhave since refused to leave police stations until
   their demands are met. They also have called for legal action against
   officers who ordered the police crackdown.

   Civilian and military officials confirmed Tuesday that a transport
   plane carrying personal protective equipment (PPE) for
   medicsalreadyhadlanded in Quetta andsaidmore supplies were on the way.

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