PESHAWAR, Aug 19: The Peshawar High Court on Friday turned down the request of an alleged quack to quash a criminal case registered against him by the provincial Health Regulatory Authority.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Fazle Haq Abbasi dismissed a writ petition filed by the alleged quack, Shahsawar Khan, charged with impersonating as a specialist doctor and treating patients for different serious ailments.

The bench observed that the officials and people playing with the lives of people did not deserve any leniency. It was observed that if any official of the regulatory authority was found involved in any wrongdoing, the lawyers should come forward with concrete evidence against them following which action would be taken.

The court directed the petitioner to appear before the trial court to defend himself. The Health Regulatory Authority had a few weeks ago raided different plazas at Dabgari area known for private practice of doctors. Several persons were arrested on charges of being quacks or acting as touts for different doctors.

The accused-petitioner was charged under section 419 and 420 of Pakistan Penal Code. It was alleged that the accused used to trap patients coming from far-flung areas and take them to ordinary doctors portraying them as specialist doctors. Moreover, he was accused of also treating patients by portraying himself as a doctor.

The petitioner's counsel contended that he was falsely implicated in the case and it was without any evidence.

The bench inquired from the counsel what the petitioner was doing at Auqaf Plaza, one of the centres known for private practice?