Contempt plea: Doctors again told not to protest

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday again warned the Young Doctors Association (YDA) against disruptive protests as long as the matter of a new service structure for doctors was in court. Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique, representing the petitioner, said the YDA should be held in contempt as it had violated the court’s orders by staging protests. He argued that the YDA was trying to influence the court through its public demonstrations. Advocate Raja Zulqarnain, representing the YDA, argued that the association had been left with no choice but to protest after talks with the government on changes to the service structure broke down. Additional Advocate General Faisal Zaman told the court that a sub-committee set up by the government was finalising its recommendations on the matter. He said that a challan had been submitted against doctors accused of negligence in a boy’s death. Justice Ijazul Ahsan directed the additional advocate general to present the sub-committee’ report at the next hearing and directed the YDA leaders not to hold protests. Proceedings were then adjourned till October 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2012.