RAWALPINDI, Nov 13: Doctors and nurses at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital went on strike after clashing over a petty issue on Thursday night.

According to sources, the clash between the doctors and nurses started when a doctor - Asim, a post-graduate trainee - requested a student nurse Hifza to bring a paper sheet. At this, she got annoyed and refused to oblige the doctor.

The doctors said the nurse used harsh words but according to the nurses the doctor slapped the nurse that created resentment among them.

Later, a group of nurses went to the medical superintendent to lodge a complaint against the doctor's attitude but they were asked to go to the deputy medical superintendent (DMS).

At this, the nurses started a protest that was joined by other nurses staying in the hostel. The nurses also refused to join the work at wards and came on the road. “Few of the seriously ill outdoor patients are being attended by the doctors,” a hospital staff said.

The angry nurses also broke windows of various wards and some of them sustained cuts and bruises while punching on window glasses of the wards, eye-witnesses said. The unattended patients at the hospital had to suffer because of the strike.

The nurses also came on the road and blocked traffic. However, prompt police action restored the traffic and pushed the protesters inside the hospital.