Peshawar High Court. PHOTO: PPI
Arguing over the Medical and Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act 2015 on Wednesday, a panel of lawyers representing petitioners said the legislation gives the board of governors unlimited powers.
A larger bench headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel was hearing petitions challenging the act. During the hearing, Advocate Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel informed the bench the government wanted to use the 2015 legislation to promote institutional practices among doctors and turn hospitals into money-making centres. He added the act states doctors can continue their private practice at hospitals where they work and share the income they earn with the government.
Citing several judgments of similar cases heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Kakakhel said the apex court had ruled that any law with conflicting sections would be ineffective.
Advocate Zafar Tahirkheli, representing another petitioner, said the MTI act does not allow employees to apply for leave in case they want to pursue education abroad. “If an employee wants to study abroad, he has to resign,” he said. “However, under the Civil Servants act, employees are allowed to obtain leave and can rejoin their service after completing
their studies.”
The hearing was adjourned to Thursday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2015.
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