LAHORE: The Shadman police released former president of Young Doctors Association Punjab Dr Hamid Butt shortly after taking him into custody after he allegedly attacked medical superintendent of the Services Hospital Lahore, abused him and thrashed him here on Thursday.

The incident occurred when a scam of ‘ghost’ employees was unearthed [some time back] and Dr Hamid Butt came to their support.

A CCTV footage of the incident showed some young doctors from another group came to rescue the MS when Dr Butt and his accomplices attacked him at his office and tortured him.

A source in the hospital said the situation turned intense when several young doctors from the ruling group also beat up Dr Hamid Butt.

They took Dr Butt to a room and subjected him to torture, the source said adding that they also thrashed the ‘ghost’ employees who were accompanying Dr Hamid Butt.

The police rushed to the spot when the hospital’s administration called on 15 for security and took Dr Butt into custody.

“Dr Hamid Butt forced entry his into my office twice and hurled threats at me and my security staff,” the MS told Dawn.

He said the reason was that former MS of the Services Hospital had caught a racket of ‘ghost’ employees who were working at the residences of doctors and were getting salaries from the hospital.

Two of them were working at the house of Dr Hamid too, he said adding that a senior medical teacher conducted an inquiry and the allegations proved true.

“Meanwhile, the former MS was removed and the health department appointed me to head the Services Hospital,” he said adding that as the inquiry was final he issued order to take action against the ghost employees.

This irritated Dr Hamid Butt who allegedly attacked his office, slapped him and abused him.

Dr Iftikhar said Mr Butt had been exerting pressure on him to dump the case.

Model Town SP Operations Mian Ijaz said the police set Dr Hamid Butt free and no FIR was lodged when both the parties sought time for reconciliation.

“I think we are combating coronavirus and at this time registration of criminal case against any doctor may sabotage peaceful environment,” he said.

Mr Ijaz said presently two groups of young doctors were confronting each other at the hospital.

One was being led by YDA Punjab President Dr Salman Haseeb and another leader Dr Atif Majeed while other was supported by former YDA president Dr Hamid Butt.

Both sides threatened to go on strike at the public sector teaching hospitals all over the province and the situation demanded that the police give them time to resolve the matter at the institution or association level, he said.

About attack on the MS, he said the police would act if both groups failed to reach any reconciliation.

For the purpose, they had been given a deadline [3pm on Friday] to inform the police about any agreement.

The SP confirmed that he had received an application from the MS in which he mentioned that Dr Hamid Butt and his accomplices thrashed him.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2020