Over Negligence: Court dismisses plea of ‘erring’ doctor

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has dismissed the petition of a Jinnah Hospital doctor suspended over negligence after a female patient died on the floor because she was not given timely treatment. On Friday, an assistant advocate general argued that Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, the petitioner, was suspended under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006. The petitioner could not approach the high court against his suspension before availing other remedies available in the law. Justice Jawad Hassan then dismissed the petition. In another case, the LHC issued notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on a petition challenging the eligibility of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s son, who was elected unopposed as the Narowal District Council chairman. The petitioner’s counsel told the court the vote of Ahmad was shifted to an urban area from rural after issuance of the election schedule in clear violation of the election laws.  Justice Shahid Waheed has put off the hearing for three weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2017.