LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered young doctors to immediately end their strike in government hospitals.
Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of the Lahore High Court heard a petition from the Young Doctors Association regarding an inquiry into the Sahiwal incident.
President of the Young Doctors Association, Dr. Shabbir Niazi, filed the petition through Advocate Noshaab Khan, making the Government of Punjab and others parties to the case.
The petitioner requested the formation of a judicial inquiry committee to investigate the Sahiwal incident and sought a declaration that the actions taken by the health department after the Sahiwal hospital incident were illegal.
The Young Doctors Association also requested the suspension of the order terminating postgraduate training until the final decision on the petition and to declare the termination of doctors’ ad-hoc positions as null and void.
During the hearing, Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan expressed concern upon seeing doctors in court, remarking that doctors should be in hospitals, not in courts.
In response, the petitioner’s lawyer said the real issue was the ground situation, and the young doctors did not want to continue the strike.
Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan asked the doctors to perform their duties and provide a guarantee that they would end the strike.
President of the Young Doctors Association, Dr. Shabbir Niazi, said he would discuss the issue with his council.
Justice Shujaat Ali remarked that Punjab is the largest province, with a population of 120 million, and doctors and engineers are assets to the country. He emphasized that this is not a monarchy or the Mughal era, and that doctors will be provided with all kinds of protection.
Later, the court ordered the Young Doctors Association to amend and refile their petition and to immediately end their strike in government hospitals.
