March 12, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 27, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

PESHAWAR, March 11: Teaching staff associations of all medical colleges and post graduate medical institution in the NWFP on Monday challenged in the Peshawar High Court the ban on private practice of government doctors and institution-based practice (IBP) by the NWFP government.

A writ petition was filed on behalf of these association by the respective office-holders through Qazi Muhammad Anwer (advocate).

The petitioners are president, Khyber Medical College Teachers Association, Dr Siddiqur Rehman, general secretary, Dr Ijaz Khattak, president, PGMI Teachers Association, Dr Arshid Jawed and general secretary Dr Jalil Khan.

The petitioners claimed that they represent the teachers of Khyber Medical College, Ayub Medical College, Saidu Medical College, Gomal Medical College and PGMI, Lady Reading Hospital.

The petitioners have challenged the Feb 12 notification of provincial government through which ban was placed on private practice of government doctors outside the hospitals and IBP was introduced. The petitioners stated that the ban was illegal, unconstitutional, and against the fundamental rights of an individual.

It is stated that the impugned notification was issued without any legal backing. The petitioners said that after their official duty the government had no right to force them to work in government hospitals.

The respondents in the petition are chief secretary, secretary health, federal government through federal secretary health, director general health services, director health services, Fata, chief executives of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Lady Reading Hospital and Khyber Teaching Hospital, all Districts Nazims in the NWFP, all executive district officers health, all medical superintendents and others.