Court requested to put vet’s name on ECL

LAHORE:

Justice Raja Shahid Mahmood of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a notice to the Interior Ministry on an application requesting the court to place the name of a vet, accused of killing the petitioner’s pet cat, on the exit control list (ECL). The judge sought a reply from the ministry until September 21.

Punjab University Assistant Professor Atia Masood has filed the application in a pending petition for the registration of a case against Dr Awais.

Abdul Rashid Qureshi, counsel for the petitioner, said Awais wanted to flee the country in view of the three cases that had been lodged against him.

Masood had said she used to take her (male) cat to Awais. “He was paid Rs6,000 for each check-up. On January 18, 2015, my cat fell sick and I called Awais. He demanded Rs25,000 this time to treat the cat. I paid him Rs10,000 and requested him not to insist on more. Awais administered five injections and a drip to the cat which caused its death.”

Rasheed had said the vet had deliberately killed the cat. “My client filed an application with Nawab Town police for registration of a case against Awais. The SHO refused to entertain it,” he said. He said she had then approached the court of a justice of peace which dismissed the application.

He said that it was a doctor’s duty to give proper treatment to his patients. “If he fails to provide proper treatment, his licence should be cancelled.” The lawyer had requested the court to dismiss the order of the justice of peace and direct the police to register an FIR against the doctor under Section 429 (killing or maiming cattle by mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2015.