Seeking Freedom: Rehab patients detain doctors, staff

Some 25 patients of a psychological and drug rehabilitation centre detained two doctors and five other staff members.

LAHORE: Some 25 patients of a psychological and drug rehabilitation centre on Tuesday detained two doctors and five other staff members in a room for more than two hours. SHO Rana Asghar said that 25 patients in Umeed Gah Hospital in Rehmanpura, Wahdat Colony, forcibly took two doctors to a room and tied them up. Five staff members, who tried to free them, were also locked up. For more than two hours, the patients kept the room locked, demanding keys to the main door that was locked. At one stage the doctors and the staff were also threatened with stabbing if the patients were not given the keys. They also broke some windows which attracted neighbours who informed the police. The police broke into the centre and freed the doctors and the staff. The families of the patients were called, who persuaded the centre administration to take back the patients, most of whom, they said, were going through a hard time of withdrawal.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2011.