LAHORE: The dispute between lawyers and young doctors has reemerged as a rally attended by hundreds of lawyers stormed Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore.
The tensed situation at the hospital spread fear among the patients when lawyers started attacking the PIC assets after raising slogans in different wards and some people entered into the operation theatres which led to the stoppage of the scheduled surgeries of cardiac patients.
The participants of the rally also shattered the window glasses of out-patient department (OPD) wards, as well as many vehicles present inside the hospital.
The paramedics and physicians were seen making attempts to run out of the hospital premises in order to save their lives.
According to Young Doctors Association, at least six patients lost their life during the attack.
Dr Asif, Patron-in-Chief of Young Doctors Association (YDA), told ARY News that the physicians and nurses were attacked and brutally tortured by the lawyers at the PIC hospital. He alleged that the situation turned violent when some lawyers raised slogans to kill the doctors.
Following death threats, the physicians and paramedics ran out of the hospital to save their lives.
Dr Asif said that the physicians have carried out surgeries at two operation theatres after locking doors. He maintained that the outrageous lawyers are still present in the hospital’s premises and no action has been taken by the higher authorities so far to control the worsening situation.
“Four to five doctors were wounded, whereas, I heard the report of the death of 5 to 6 patients,” he added.
Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA)’s secretary Fayyaz Ahmad Ranjha told a private television channel that the lawyers have differences with the administration but the patients admitted in the hospital were not affected by the protestors.
Ranjha claimed that the association will take strict action over complaints of damaging government assets by lawyers. He hinted to cancel licences of the practitioners if the association received any evidence against them. The secretary announced that he is departing PIC hospital along with LHCBA’s president Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry.
Later, the police personnel charged baton and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesting lawyers for bringing the situation under control. The protestors were dispersed after baton charge and usage of water-cannon by the police officials.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took serious notice of the incident. He directed the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore and Secretary Specialised Health Education to submit an inquiry report.
The chief minister announced that the provincial authorities will take strict action against the responsible people in creating chaos at the PIC hospital.
Moreover, CM Buzdar has shortened his visit to Islamabad to head towards Lahore. He also summoned a meeting of Punjab’s cabinet committee on law and order at 4:00 pm today.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed Punjab chief secretary and inspector general (IG) police to initiate an investigation and submit a report.
Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has been slapped and tortured by outrageous lawyers outside Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) hospital in Lahore.
The lawyers, who were protesting inside PIC hospital over a dispute with young doctors, slapped and severely tortured Punjab’s information minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan when he arrived at the hospital’s premises to hold talks with them.
Chohan sought the assistance of police officials who were standing near to him but no one came there to put out of the outrageous crowd. Later, the minister managed to run away from the site.
Meanwhile, rangers reached at the area to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Lawyers went “out of control” while holding batons and sticks and broke the emergency gate of the PIC after a video that showed doctors allegedly torturing lawyers went viral on the social media.
Later, policemen arrested 18 lawyers including three female lawyers. Subsequently, lawyers in groups gathered at different main roads of the city and blocked them. This led to major traffic jams in the vicinity of Mall Road, GPO Chowk and Civil Secretariat Stop.
Moreover, Metro Bus Service was halted citing security concerns when a group of lawyers stopped a metro bus on its route. Authorities are directed to park the buses at Shahdara and Gajju Mata stops as they had already burnt a police van.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, soon after the incident was reported, took notice and ordered Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Azam Suleiman Khan and Inspector General Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastagir to submit a report on the priority basis.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid has arrived at the hospital to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Punjab Bar Council Vice Chairman Ismail Shah Nawaz also took notice of the riot by the lawyers at the hospital.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan has on Wednesday said such attack by lawyers was not expected and action must be taken against the rioters.
The senior PPP leader and lawyer talked to Dunya News and termed the event as regrettable. “No damage was caused during the lawyers’ movement. The incident would not have happened had action been taken in past.
“The lawyers should have provided protection to Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hassan Chohan. The matter should have been solved through dialogue. I am feeling ashamed today.”
Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmad Shah termed the clash between lawyers and doctors at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) as a tragic incident, and said that action will be taken against the perpetrators.
Ijaz Shah issued a statement in which he expressed that a dispute took place between doctors and lawyers three to four weeks ago. He added that the matter was reconciled but it rose up again which turned out it in a horrific clash. “Lawyers were outraged after watching the videos on social media,” he added.
Young Doctors Association and Grand Health Alliance surrounded Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid during a clash between lawyers and doctors at PIC hospital in Lahore. -NNI