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ISLAMABAD - Prof Dr Shahid Nawaz Malik, professor and head of cardiology department at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), was shot in the head on Saturday by two unknown assailants.

Prof Malik was leaving the cardiology department after completing procedures when two assailants on motorbike shot him injured, informed Dr Ayesha Essaani, Pims spokesperson. “He was shot in the back of his head. Prof Khaliquz Zaman operated on him and operation lasted for nearly three hours.

His condition is very, very serious.” It was an incident of target killing but the intention of the shooting could only be known after investigations, she added.

The gunman fled the scene after shooting the doctor. Police, Elite Force and Rangers reached the hospital and started investigation.

Back-to-back crime incidents have shocked the largest public-sector hospital of the federal capital and also being described as an example of acute mismanagement and administrative failure. On January 10 a newborn child was kidnapped from Children’s hospital of Pims. Then a nursing student was shot at within the hospital premises on January 23.

Officials on condition of anonymity informed that complaints regarding minting money from the poor patients to pay commission to the suppliers of angioplasty products and head of the cardiology department were registered. They said even patients were implanted expired stents. They doubted that Prof Malik could have been injured by any relative of some patient.

However, Prof Javed Akram, Vice-Chancellor of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University-Pims, maintained that they did not hear about any clash or scuffle at the hospital between the injured doctor and the visitors.

He said an FIR had been registered and facts would be unearthed by police after investigations.

Regarding Malik’s condition he said the bullet had hit the sensitive part and removing the bullet would be dangerous.

In reaction to the killing of Dr Nawaz, Dr Waseem Khawaja demanded of the government to issue arms licences to doctors for their personal safety. Police have prepared sketches of the attackers and a probe has been under way.

Dr Shahid Nawaz Malik hails from Khushab and has been serving at Pims for the last many years.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif taking notice of the incident has sought report from the interior ministry on the issue. He directed to improve security of all major cities, especially the federal capital.

Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq also strongly condemned the attack on renowned cardiac surgeon Dr Shahid Malik. He expressed sympathies with the family and the doctors’ community over the tragic incident.