Doctors’ strike: Government files review petition against LHC order

AG says court issued directions on matters that a service tribunal was to decide.

LAHORE:

The Punjab government on Tuesday filed a review petition against a Lahore High Court order, issued on July 7, asking the judge to elaborate on it.

The court had suspended all show-cause notices as well as those notifying termination and suspension of young doctors who were on a strike.

The petition has been filed through the advocate general (AG) and says that the order issued by Justice Ijazul Ahsan left many questions unanswered. It says that the judge has issued directions on matters that were to be taken up by a services tribunal. The government stated that the order also gave the impression that no case could be registered against the doctors.

It referred to an incident where ‘young doctors’ had locked up and “tortured” a Special Branch official at Services Hospital.

Do doctors enjoy immunity in such instances, asks the petition. It has been pointed out in the review plea that the petitions being heard by the court had sought action against the doctors and cancellation of their licences. However, says the petition, the court ignored the prayer and gave relief to young doctors, “which was never sought”.

Govt, doctors meet 

Representatives of the doctors’ associations and government officials met at the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) on Tuesday to discuss a new service structure the doctors are demanding.

No significant headway was reported.

Dr Amir Ali Bandesha, Dr Nasir Bokhari and Dr Abubakar attended the meeting on behaalf of the Young Doctors Association Punjab while Dr Tanveer Anwar, Dr Abrar Ashraf Ali and Dr Izhar Chaudhry represented the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).

The meeting was chaired by Khawaja Salman Rafique, special assistant to the chief minister on health.

Secretaries for health, finance, law, prosecution and regulation departments were also present.

“The participants agreed that uninterrupted medical facilities be provided to patients, a new service structure be devised and solutions to the problems faced by doctors figured out,” said Dr Chaudhry, the PMA secretary general. The committee will meet again in three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2012.