LHC orders young doctors to end strike immediately

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ordered young doctors to immediately end their strike at government hospitals.

Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan presided over the hearing of the Young Doctors Association’s (YDA) petition regarding the Sahiwal incident.

Dr. Shabbir Niazi, President of the YDA, filed the petition through Advocate Naushab Khan, making the Punjab government and others respondents in the case.

The petitioner requested a judicial inquiry committee be formed to investigate the Sahiwal incident and to declare the actions taken by the health department following the incident as illegal.

The YDA also requested the suspension of the decision to terminate postgraduate training until the final decision on the petition and to declare the termination of doctors’ ad-hoc appointments null and void.

During the hearing, Acting Chief Justice Shujaat Ali Khan expressed concern upon seeing the doctors in court, remarking that doctors should be in hospitals, not in courtrooms.

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The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the real issue was the ground reality and that young doctors did not want to continue the strike.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan urged the doctors to perform their duties and provide a guarantee that they would end the strike.

Dr. Shabbir Niazi, President of the YDA, stated that he would discuss the issue with his council.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan emphasized that Punjab, being the largest province with a population of 120 million, relies heavily on doctors and engineers, who are the nation’s assets. He assured that doctors would be provided with all necessary protection, stating that there is no monarchy here, nor is it the era of Akbar.

Subsequently, the High Court ordered the YDA to amend and refile their petition and immediately end the strike in government hospitals.