'Lawyers or terrorists?': Twitterati slam Lahore hospital attackers

Users of microblogging site universally condemn attack by lawyers group on Punjab Institute of Cardiology

Twitterati called for heads to roll after a large number of lawyers stormed Lahore's Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) which left at least three patients dead on Wednesday.

Angry protesters, reportedly belonging to the Lahore Bar Association (LBA), marched towards the medical facility demonstrating against an incident in which their colleagues were allegedly thrashed by doctors at the PIC earlier this month.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, who tried to mediate with the protesting lawyers and doctors, was also not spared as he was manhandled by rioters.

The custodians of the law then set a police vehicle ablaze before proceeding to vandalise the hospital.

They ransacked its emergency room with medical staff and attendants present inside the facility falling prey to their thuggery.

Three patients dead as lawyers attack Lahore hospital

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif reacted by calling for "all those responsible to be brought to justice".

The former chief minister of Punjab went on to say that "the law of the land was torn into pieces in Lahore".

He added that every citizen was ashamed over the horrible incident. "Can't find words to sufficiently condemn hooliganism whose cost was borne by the PATIENTS. The incident shows complete failure of the Punjab govt."

All those responsible must be brought to justice! https://t.co/UVxgjrqyFF

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) December 11, 2019

While fellow party leader Ahsan Iqbal questioned the government over not doing enough to stop the violence.

"Where was the government today? Who is responsible for 6 deaths in PIC Lahore?" Iqbal said.

Where was the government today? Who is responsible for 6 deaths in PIC Lahore? This doesn’t happen in Riyasat e Madinah.

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) December 11, 2019

While Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari shared that authorities had taken 40 lawyers into custody.

The women were released not bec they happen to be women but bec they were not identified as actually involved in the terrorist violence - but as more evidence comes in there will be no gender bias in arresting any of these terrorists. https://t.co/KKDFU34w1w

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 11, 2019

She had also strongly condemned the attack on the hospital. "Absolutely horrifying that those supposed to act in accordance with the law chose to become terrorists when they attacked PIC in Lahore killing patients in the process. Not the first time lawyers have become violent. What's the difference between marauding lawyers & terrorists?"

Absolutely horrifying that those supposed to act in accordance with the law chose to become terrorists when they attacked PIC in Lahore killing patients in the process. Not the first time lawyers have become violent. What's the difference between marauding lawyers & terrorists?

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 11, 2019

Journalist and analyst Zarar Khuhro was more damning in his indictment of the incident as he deemed all those involving in the rioting as "barbarians".

He said they must all be sent behind bars for incitement to murder.

"Will the chief justices ever clean house or will they also be held hostages by the goons of the bar associations? Will the govt also chicken out," the television anchor said.

All these barbarians need to be in jail for incitement to murder. Will the CJs ever clean house or will they also be held hostages by the goons of the bar associations? Will the govt also chicken out? https://t.co/M45S3aonNq

— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) December 11, 2019

Social media star Waqar Zaka also weighed-in claiming that education could not change "Pakistanis DNA".

"This is the most disturbing day in Human history, even enemies don’t attack on a hospital during war, how can educated ppl [people] be so heartless? #Lahore," he tweeted.

Then you say education can bring a change in Pakistan, it’s in our DNA to act destructive #lawyers , the most disturbing day in Human history, even enemies don’t attack on a hospital during war, how can educated ppl be so heartless ? #Lahore

— Waqar Zaka (@ZakaWaqar) December 11, 2019