August 09, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 24, 1428

MIANWALI, Aug 8: As many as three doctors of the District Headquarters Hospital tendered their resignations to protest against what they called improper attitude of medical superintendent and the `filthy politics’ of some of their colleagues.

Reports said a local trader, Hajhi Rustam Khan, died in the hospital because of the alleged negligence of some doctors. The district nazim instituted a probe into the death, deputing District Officer (health) Dr Abdul Razaq Khan and Mochh Rural Health Centre Medical Officer Dr Sajad Hussain as inquiry officers.

In the light of the findings of the probe, police registered a murder case against MS Dr Muhammad Farooq Khan and MO Dr Zafar Iqbal Khan.

On last Friday, doctors went on a strike against registration of the case on the call of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Mianwali chapter. However, they called off the strike on Sunday evening.

The junior doctors— Dr Aamer Niazi, Dr Azizur Rehmn Araeen and Dr Sagheer Ahmad —- who tendered their resignation with the MS stated they were fed up with the ongoing episode because of which the common man was suffering.

On Aug 7 (Tuesday), Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took a suo motu notice of the affair and ordered provincial health secretary to appear before Mr Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan of the Lahore Bench on August 10 to submit a detailed report on the issue.

The PMA’s local chapter secretary general Dr Qaiser Obaid Khan told this scribe that the doctors’ resignations were an internal affair of the hospital and the association had no links with the matter.

Welcoming the suo motu action by the apex court, he said it would bring to light the facts of the matter and the role of certain local politicians who, he alleged, had made the hospital a mess.

The EDO (Health), MS and the doctors who resigned were not available for their comments.

STRIKE CALLED OFF: The prisoners at Central Jail, Mianwali, called off their hunger strike after the intervention of provincial secretary.

Reports said a prisoners’ delegation on Tuesday met with the jail superintendent and demanded implementation of a high court order pertaining to provision of remissions to inmates, facilitating their release.

As the superintendent took no immediate action, the prisoners went on hunger strike till acceptance of their demand.

The jail superintendent apprised the provincial secretary concerned of the situation, who reportedly said that an order was being faxed to quarters concerned for implementation of the high court orders.

As the prisoners were informed about the orders, they called off their strike.

Jail Deputy-Superintendent Muhammad Yaqub told Dawn the implementation of the court order would benefit more than 1,000 prisoners here.