PAN, July 23, 2011

ISAF kills lady doctor along with two relatives

Aqila was killed in the exchange of fire, the spokesman said, adding that it was not yet clear who had killed the lady doctor

By Mirwais Himat

NATO-led troops killed a lady doctor along with two family members in the Syedabad district of central Wardak province, the Ghazni Civil Hospital director alleged on Saturday.

Dr. Ismayeel Ibrahimzai told Pajhwok Afghan News that Dr. Aqila Hekmat, in charge of the maternity ward, her 18-year-old son and nephew were killed late on Friday, when ISAF soldiers fired at their vehicle.

The doctor's husband was injured in the shooting near the Sheikhabad area on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, Ibrahimzai said, adding the incident happened after an ISAF convoy struck a roadside bomb.

Aqila Hekmat's vehicle came under fire from ISAF while moving from the main road to a subway. Ibrahimzai said Public Health Directorate staff and Ghazni-based doctors, saddened by her death, had urged an invistigation into the incident.

Col. Zarawar Zahid, Ghazni police chief, denounced the incident as shocking, saying they would jointly investigate the murder with Maidan Wardak officials.

Shahidullah Shahid, the governor’s spokesman, also condemned the killing of Dr. Hekmat and her relatives. He quoted unnamed ISAF officials as saying that they came under fire from the Taliban after their vehicle struck the roadside bomb.

Aqila was killed in the exchange of fire, the spokesman said, adding that it was not yet clear who had killed the lady doctor.

But a statement from the NATO-led force said the incident caused no civilian casualties. An ISAF combat outpost observed a car moving in its direction and the soldiers signalled it to stop.

"When it continued travelling towards the combat outpost, the gunner fired one bullet into the engine block. The vehicle stopped and the incident resulted in one civilian wounded, who was immediately treated at ISAF medical facilities."

Resident Syed Abdullah Walizai said the incident occured in the Zirni area of Shneez Valley. ISAF forces started indiscrimate fire on passengers after the explosion, killing three of a family and wounding two others, he claimed.

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