LAHORE, July 20: Punjab government on Friday told the Lahore High Court that if demands of young doctors for a service structure were accepted, Pandora’s box will be opened.

This was stated by an Additional Advocate General Faisal Zaman during hearing of a petition for cancellation of young doctors’ licenses for observing strike and scrutiny of their degrees.

Penal action against the doctors and banning of Young Doctors Association was also demanded in the petition being heard by Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

Mr Zaman further told the court that Punjab government could not give perks to the young doctors more than those being enjoyed by doctors of other provinces. The doctors in Punjab were already getting enough salaries, he added.

He said if the government accepted the young doctor’s demand, engineers, sanitary workers and other government servants would demand the same perks and privileges.

He said Punjab government could not make a service structure for doctors which was in conflict with that in other provinces.

He said the government could not promote doctors directly to BS-18, as demanded by the YDA. The demand was a violation of Civil Service Act 1974, he added.

The law officer pointed out that the salary package being demanded by the young doctors would cost Rs4.72 billion and the government was already facing funds shortage.

He told the court that the government held a meeting with all stakeholders and asked the YDA representatives to give logical proposals on service structure.

YDA Punjab chapter general secretary Nasir Abbas told the court that the doctors were not demanding official vehicles and residences.

He said a medical student became doctor after 18 years of study, therefore, he should be given special perks. He said direct appointment of doctors in BS-18 was their right.

Justice Ahsan asked the YDA representatives to submit their proposals in writing for their service structure till Saturday (today).

He said these recommendations would be sent to the Punjab government and after taking the government’s recommendations the court would decide the matter. The judge adjourned further hearing till July 24.

The petition was filed by Judicial Activism Panel’s chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique. He submitted that the refusal of young doctors to serve patients in hospitals was a denial of fundamental rights of the patients and against the norms of noble medical profession.

He said doctors strike had put the lives of patients in danger. He said the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) be directed to scrutinise medical degrees of young doctors and cancel their licenses for observing a strike.