Another protest by doctors

The recent incident involving K-P health minister and doctors is symptomatic of a wider malaise in the society

For years, we have usually been at the bottom of positive indicators and at the top in negative ones on the social league table. The declining state of our society only saddens us. The recent incident involving the provincial health minister and doctors in K-P is symptomatic of a wider malaise in the society. Doctors in K-P have been on strike for the past two days in protest against what they claim physical attack on a professor of surgery at Khyber Medical College by security guards of the provincial health minister. Reports say on Tuesday the minister had arguments with Dr Ziauddin Afridi at the hospital during which they also exchanged physical blows following a meeting chaired by Prof Nausherwan Burki. During the meeting, Dr Afridi allegedly threw eggs at Prof Burki. Dr Afridi was removed from the conference by the police. The health minister’s guards allegedly beat up Surgeon Afridi who was then treated for head and neck injuries.

According to reports, an FIR has been registered against Dr Afridi and three others for throwing eggs at Dr Burki. However, sources in the police say since the medico-legal report presented to them was prepared by colleagues of the injured doctors, they will register an FIR only after establishing the authenticity of the medico-legal report. The minister maintains he acted in self-defence. At a press conference on Wednesday, he said he had gone to the hospital to apologise to Dr Burki where he asked Dr Afridi about his action. Dr Afridi claimed that the minister, Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan, had used abusive language and ordered his guards to beat him. A group of doctors are demanding action against Dr Afridi. Another group of doctors has been on strike since Wednesday calling for the registration of an FIR against the provincial minister and his security guards. The chief minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2019.

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