ISLAMABAD: Fatigue has started to take its toll on the policemen called in from Azad Kashmir and Punjab as more than 100 of them visit Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) daily to get medical certificates which they can produce to take leave from their duties.

However, such is the level of their frustration that when doctors refuse to entertain them, they become aggressive and use derogatory language.

These policemen have been on security duty at Red Zone for the last 17 days in the wake of sit-ins being held by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

A Pims doctor, requesting not to be identified, said they (policemen) visit the emergency department daily and force the duty doctor to issue them medical certificates despite having no ailment.

“When we ask them that issuing a medical certificate to a fit person is unethical they start misbehaving. They don’t even respect the lady doctors who have now decided not to entertain them anymore,” he said.

“If we start issuing medical certificates without any genuine reason, all policemen will leave the federal capital,” he said.

“Whenever police officials misbehave with doctors it becomes an embarrassment for the patients and their relatives (present at that time),” he said.

“We have informed the Pims management about the attitude of the police officials and if it does not resolve the issue we will stop providing medical treatment to them (policemen),” he said.

Another doctor requesting anonymity said after dealing with the Punjab police officials he had reached a conclusion that officials of Islamabad police are gentleman.

“The government should depute a senior police official at Pims to keep an eye on the policemen who are not sick but seek medical certificate,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of Pims Prof Dr Javed Akram, while talking to Dawn, confirmed that he had been informed by the doctors that police officials were misbehaving with them and they demanded medical certificates without any genuine reason.

“I have also informed the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) regarding the issue and instructed doctors, deputed in the emergency department, to refer cases of police officials to professors,” he said.

While replying to a question, Dr Akram said so far three medical certificates have been issued.“I believe that because of prolonged sit-in in Islamabad, police officials who have come from far-flung areas are tired due to lack of facilities and want to go back to their cities,” he said.

Dr Akram said: “Doctors of the police department should issue medical certificates to police officials. We are ready to provide space to them in Pims.”

Published in Dawn, August 31, 2014