LHC turns on petitioner, dismisses case imposes Rs50,000 fine

LHC dismisses 'baseless' petition after petitioner fails to convince court on claim.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court imposed a Rs50,000 fine on a lady doctor of Sheikh Zayed Hospital for filing a baseless petition against two of her colleagues including the chairman of the hospital.

Dr Shazia Khawaja had filed a petition claiming that two of her subordinates were promoted, disregarding rules as proscribed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Dr Khwaja submitted that she had filed poor Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for Dr Yasmin Shah and Dr Asifa Abbas, two lady doctors at the Obstetric and Gynecology Department of the hospital. She had said that both lady doctors were, despite the poor recommendations, promoted by chairman and dean of Sheikh Zayed Hospital.

She requested the court to declare promotion of both lady doctors illegal and in violation of PMDC rules.

The court had sought records and reply from hospital’s chairman who stated that the promotion was made on merit and the allegations of petitioner were baseless.

When Dr Shazia Khawaja could not convince the court on being asked to prove the assertions she had stated in her petition, Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan disposed of the case. He declared it as baseless petition and imposed fine on Dr. Shazia Khawaja for wasting the court’s time.