Governance, culture: Doctor slapped, MPA accused of assault
Chief minister has taken notice of the incident and sought an inquiry report.
“He got angry and slapped me,” the doctor said. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
FAISALABAD/LAHORE:
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday took notice of allegations against an MPA hitting a doctor at a hospital in Samundari and sought a report from the health secretary in this regard.
Dr Saeed Ahsraf of Samundari tehsil headquarters hospital told The Express Tribune that on Sunday evening, he was examining some patients when MPA Rao Kashif Raheem visited with his guards.
He said he did not get up to greet the MPA as he was busy examining patients. He said the MPA took it as insult.
“He got angry and slapped me,” the doctor said.
However, Raheem told The Express Tribune that he had not as much as touched the doctor.
“I went to the hospital after several people complained to me about the doctor,” he said.
He said the hospital staff informed the doctor of his arrival. He said the doctor snubbed them, saying he would deal with the MPA himself.
“When I asked him why he was mistreating patients and staffers, he started misbehaving,” the MPA said.
“I did not hit him but some people who were witnessing the episode did,” he said.
He said he tried to rescue the doctor from the beating.
“There is a CCTV camera at the hospital. If there is video footage of me slapping him, I will accept any punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) has called an emergency meeting of its general council to discuss the matter.
YDA Punjab president Javaid Aheer told The Express Tribune that the YDA would write to the Election Commission of Pakistan and seek the MPA’s suspension from the parliament.
“We will protest and boycott duties at hospitals across the Punjab if justice is not served,” he said.
Leaders of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Faisalabad YDA called for immediate registration of a case and the arrest of the MPA.
Speaking at a news conference, PMA president Rai Arif Hussain and YDA Faisalabad President Dr Muhamad Maroof said humiliation of doctors at the hands of parliamentarians would not be tolerated.
They also said the chief justice of Pakistan should take suo motu notice of the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday took notice of allegations against an MPA hitting a doctor at a hospital in Samundari and sought a report from the health secretary in this regard.
Dr Saeed Ahsraf of Samundari tehsil headquarters hospital told The Express Tribune that on Sunday evening, he was examining some patients when MPA Rao Kashif Raheem visited with his guards.
He said he did not get up to greet the MPA as he was busy examining patients. He said the MPA took it as insult.
“He got angry and slapped me,” the doctor said.
However, Raheem told The Express Tribune that he had not as much as touched the doctor.
“I went to the hospital after several people complained to me about the doctor,” he said.
He said the hospital staff informed the doctor of his arrival. He said the doctor snubbed them, saying he would deal with the MPA himself.
“When I asked him why he was mistreating patients and staffers, he started misbehaving,” the MPA said.
“I did not hit him but some people who were witnessing the episode did,” he said.
He said he tried to rescue the doctor from the beating.
“There is a CCTV camera at the hospital. If there is video footage of me slapping him, I will accept any punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) has called an emergency meeting of its general council to discuss the matter.
YDA Punjab president Javaid Aheer told The Express Tribune that the YDA would write to the Election Commission of Pakistan and seek the MPA’s suspension from the parliament.
“We will protest and boycott duties at hospitals across the Punjab if justice is not served,” he said.
Leaders of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Faisalabad YDA called for immediate registration of a case and the arrest of the MPA.
Speaking at a news conference, PMA president Rai Arif Hussain and YDA Faisalabad President Dr Muhamad Maroof said humiliation of doctors at the hands of parliamentarians would not be tolerated.
They also said the chief justice of Pakistan should take suo motu notice of the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.