LAHORE, April 18: Scores of staff nurses of Jinnah Hospital held a protest demonstration on Monday shortly after attendants of a patient allegedly thrashed one of their colleagues.

Reports said female relatives of an elderly patient, Muhammad Din, admitted to the Surgical-I unit of the hospital scuffled with an on-duty staff nurse, Zahida Parveen, over a minor issue.

The attendants had taken the patient to a private laboratory outside the hospital for some tests, reportedly on doctor's advice.

When they returned, they found the patient's bed occupied by another patient. The daughter of Muhammad Din protested the occupation of bed the and asked the on-duty nurse to get it vacated. Both had an argument that led to a scuffle.

A source said the hospital administration handed over the two female relatives of the patient to the police, seeking registration of a criminal case against them.

Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Prof Javed Akram claimed the dispute had been resolved and that no body was arrested. He said the nurses had resumed their duty.