LHC seeks replies on pleas against doctors, government

YDA alleges court orders on medical institutions bill flouted

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought replies from the respondents on two petitions seeking contempt proceedings against doctors and Punjab government over not complying with court orders.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) sought contempt proceedings against the provincial government over getting passed the Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Bill from the assembly rather than submitting a report before the court after getting views of all stakeholders.

On another civil miscellaneous application, contempt proceedings had been sought against doctors and paramedic staff for protesting on The Mall despite having been restrained by the court to do so.

YDA president Salman Haseeb Chaudhary implored the court that respondent Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Momin Ali Agha had been appointed as convener by Justice Jawad Hassan of a committee constituted on November 5 last year.

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He said the court had issued directives that “the secretary specialized healthcare and medical education department government of the Punjab Lahore will hold two days consultative workshop on November 22, and 23, 2019 on the draft act by notifying all the members of the committee.

Copy of the draft act had been handed over to learned counsel for the respondents and petitioner.

All stakeholders will be heard in the workshop, thereafter, the convener of the committee shall finalize the draft act and submit the same with a detailed report before this court on the next date”.

He contended the court that the bill was passed by the provincial assembly rather than taking all stakeholders on board and submitting the report before the court after the process.

The petitioner contended that the respondent is guilty of disregarding and flouting the orders of the court and is liable to be convicted under the contempt laws.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2020.