After LHC issues order, doctors agree to return to emergency wards

YDA says its strikes in indoor and OPD departments will continue till their colleagues are not released.

LAHORE:
Young Doctors Association (YDA) in Punjab has decided to end their strike with immediate effect and return to their posts in the emergency wards of hospitals across the province.

The decision was announced at an emergency press conference by the Association at the doctor’s hostel at Services Hospital. YDA Punjab spokesperson Dr Nasir Bokhari said that the decision had been taken after the Lahore High Court asked YDA Punjab to resume duties at 9am on July 7, 2012 (Saturday).

“If we save just one life in the whole night we will consider it our success,” he claimed.

However, he maintained that the YDA strikes for indoor and out patient services will continue. They hoped that the court would help them release their colleagues currently detained, charged under Section 302 of the CrPC.

“We are thankful to the LHC for listening to our grievances and we will continue our struggle for Service Structure,” he hoped.

YDA Punjab President Dr Hamid Butt and other office bearers were also present at the occasion.

Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC), while hearing the case pertaining to the young doctors’ strike, ordered that all emergency wards at Punjab’s public hospitals be made operational from 9am tomorrow, Express News reported on Friday.


Young Doctors Association (YDA) and Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) representatives appeared before the court, and the order was passed after reaching a consensus on the issue. Spokesperson YDA assured the court that the doctors will comply with the orders.

Upon the court's summoning of the YDA president and general secretary, the YDA representatives stated that the officials could not come as they could not risk getting arrested.

Hearing this, the court issued an order stating that no official was to be arrested till 2pm.

Justice Aijazul Hasan, in his remarks said, “The court will find a solution to this problem according to the law, the government should not try to find a solution through third degree methods.”

The court was further told that the four doctors who are still in police custody were not arrested on the orders of the Punjab government but were arrested on an application filed by a private applicant.

The hearing has been adjourned till 10am tomorrow (Saturday).

Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had claimed that the YDA had called off its strike after a meeting, which was held with senior doctors. However, the YDA denied Sanaullah's statements claiming they would only resume their duties after all detained doctors were released and all charges were dropped against them.

 
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