FAISALABAD, March 8: Doctors staged a protest demonstration and observed a complete strike on Thursday against the Jinnah town police officer (TPO) for allegedly manhandling their colleague. Doctors of Allied and DHQ hospitals did not attend patients in wards except emergency and took out a protest rally from Allied hospital to Punjab Medical College. They were carrying banners inscribed with slogans against police misbehaviour with Dr Javed Khalid of DHQ. Police high-ups reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters, assuring them of action against the TPO.

Reports said a couple of days ago TPO Sarfraz Falki had visited the hospital along with his wife to get his son examined. He was asked to go to the children’s ward where Dr Javed Khalid would treat the child. Mr Falki went to the ward where he met the duty doctor who was in a casual dress. They reportedly exchanged hot words over the dress and the TPO called his subordinates to the hospital who locked the doctor in a room.

Dr Javed managed his escape and informed his high-ups about the incident.

Sources said nurses and the doctor had casually treated the boy when Mr Falki visited the hospital on March 3 at 10pm.

On the contrary, doctors submitted an application with the medical superintendent against the TPO and claimed that the police officer threatened him that he would be kidnapped or murdered.

The strike call was given by the Doctors Action Committee (DAC) and scores of doctors gathered on the Allied hospital’s premises. A number of outdoor patients also joined the doctors to protest against the police.

Speaking on the occasion, PMA president Dr Tufail and others said they would not tolerate police highhandedness with their fellows. They said the protest would continue till suspension of the TPO from service.

A committee has also been constituted, comprising doctors, to resolve the issue.