QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has asked those members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) who have been boycotting the government hospitals’ OPDs almost for one month that they cannot go on a strike anymore. It said those who will boycott the official duty will be sacked from the service.

A two-member bench of the BHC comprising Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Abdullah Baloch passed this order during the hearing of a constitutional petition filed against the boycott of OPDs in government hospitals by the YDA members here on Monday.

The chief justice expressed his anger over the young doctors, saying that why they had taken out a rally despite the order of the court.

The YDA’s representatives told the bench that they had taken out the rally because one of the doctors was gunned down and the rally was for the arrest of the accused.

The chief justice asked, “did the government kill the doctor and did you people approach the IG and DIG police in this regard”.

“It takes time for the police to reach the unknown suspect. Let the system run,” the chief justice remarked and directed the young doctors not to go on a strike or take out rallies anymore.

“Any doctor who will boycott the OPD in the future will lose his job,” Chief Justice Afghan said.

The court in its inquiry said that the YDA should keep paramedics separate from itself.

During the hearing, the health department submitted a report on the steps taken to resolve the issue while the young doctors also submitted a reply on the issue.

After which the court adjourned the hearing on the constitutional petition till Nov 15.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2021