Show of strength for brethren in stress
Doctors hold rally at D-Chowk after colleagues arrested and injured in Quetta.
ISLAMABAD:
Young doctors from Rawalpindi and Islamabad submitted an application to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, requesting it to take a suo moto notice against Balochistan Health Department (BHD) for manhandling doctors holding a “peaceful” rally in Quetta.
Around 500 YDA members from Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) and Polyclinic gathered at around 12:30pm at D-Chowk and protested against BHD in front of the Parliament House. They demanded immediate release of those who were but behind the bars during a rally in Quetta.
According to the protesting doctors, the police, to stop the “slowly marching nonviolent doctors”, used aerial firing and tear gas. In the process nine got injured, and, later, 40 were arrested. The protest was part of a months-long campaign by doctors in the province for better service structure, salaries and regularisation of doctors who are on contract.
A government official, however, said that the arrested doctors were released on bail after the protest.
Later, YDA members tried to march towards the Supreme Court where they were stopped by police. After a small scuffle, six YDA members were allowed to go inside the Supreme Court.
Dr Muhammad Haroon, Chairperson YDA Rawalpindi, told The Express Tribune, “A delegation of three doctors went inside the Supreme Court and submitted an application to Dr Faqir Hussain, Registrar, Supreme Court.”
The official from the apex court assured the doctors of prompt action after which they “peacefully returned to their respective hospitals”.
Dr Haroon said it is really painful to see the attitude of Balochistan government towards the people who have spent their lives in serving humanity.
“Their attitude has forced all of us to come on roads and fight for their right and tell our Baloch brothers that they are not alone in these tough times,” he said. It is of deep concern, the doctor added, that when all the provincial governments have fulfilled the demands of the young doctors, Balochistan government is reluctant to do so.
Meanwhile to show solidarity with YDA Balochistan, YDA at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) observed a black day and wore black armbands during their duty hours.
YDA Pims Chairperson Dr Muhammad Sajid said, “We strongly condemn this brutal action of Balochistan government towards the YDA Balochistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.
Young doctors from Rawalpindi and Islamabad submitted an application to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, requesting it to take a suo moto notice against Balochistan Health Department (BHD) for manhandling doctors holding a “peaceful” rally in Quetta.
Around 500 YDA members from Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) and Polyclinic gathered at around 12:30pm at D-Chowk and protested against BHD in front of the Parliament House. They demanded immediate release of those who were but behind the bars during a rally in Quetta.
According to the protesting doctors, the police, to stop the “slowly marching nonviolent doctors”, used aerial firing and tear gas. In the process nine got injured, and, later, 40 were arrested. The protest was part of a months-long campaign by doctors in the province for better service structure, salaries and regularisation of doctors who are on contract.
A government official, however, said that the arrested doctors were released on bail after the protest.
Later, YDA members tried to march towards the Supreme Court where they were stopped by police. After a small scuffle, six YDA members were allowed to go inside the Supreme Court.
Dr Muhammad Haroon, Chairperson YDA Rawalpindi, told The Express Tribune, “A delegation of three doctors went inside the Supreme Court and submitted an application to Dr Faqir Hussain, Registrar, Supreme Court.”
The official from the apex court assured the doctors of prompt action after which they “peacefully returned to their respective hospitals”.
Dr Haroon said it is really painful to see the attitude of Balochistan government towards the people who have spent their lives in serving humanity.
“Their attitude has forced all of us to come on roads and fight for their right and tell our Baloch brothers that they are not alone in these tough times,” he said. It is of deep concern, the doctor added, that when all the provincial governments have fulfilled the demands of the young doctors, Balochistan government is reluctant to do so.
Meanwhile to show solidarity with YDA Balochistan, YDA at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) observed a black day and wore black armbands during their duty hours.
YDA Pims Chairperson Dr Muhammad Sajid said, “We strongly condemn this brutal action of Balochistan government towards the YDA Balochistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2011.