LHC orders doctors to resume work in OPDs, all wards

E-Paper | June 15, 2026

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Policemen gather outside court rooms in Lahore. — Photo by AFP

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday ordered the doctors associated with the YDA to resume working in the emergencies, OPDs and all other hospital wards by 9 am Monday, DawnNews reported.

The court heard the case involving petitions against the strike and for cancellation of young doctors’ licenses for allegedly committing professional misconduct.

During the hearing, the court said that like the police and the armed services, doctors should also be provided with a proper service structure.

The doctors' counsel, Raja Zulqarnain, told the court that in spite of court directives, the Punjab government was harassing the doctors.

He moreover told the court that the doctors had been issued unlawful notices by the provincial government.

In its reply submitted to the court, the Punjab government said that the doctors were issued notices under the Punjab Employees, Efficiency and Discipline Act of 2006 (PEDA Act).

The court said that if the doctors were being harassed they should inform the court on that and the court would ensure that the doctors get due respect.

The court said that on the issues of suspension, dismissal and other notices, both the doctors and the provincial government should exhibit goodwill. It said both parties would be provided ample time to resolve the issues.

No individual or institution would be permitted to act in violation of the law and the Constitution, the court added.

The LHC also constituted a committee to resolve the issues between the provincial government and the YDA. The committee is expected to present its report before the court after a period of two weeks.

Concluding the hearing, the court ordered the doctors associated to resume working in the emergencies, OPDs and all other hospital wards by 9 am Monday.

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Pakistan

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M. Bilal Noor

Jul 07, 2012 10:48am

Funny think about the photo, the policemen are attired in sweaters and a jacket in mid-summer... interesting bit of photo journalism, very real and alive to the context. With rights come responsibilities, YDA could've moved court to begin with or submitted mass resignations. This is very jiyala like protest, callous and unbecoming of their profession.

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dr.sabiha

Jul 07, 2012 10:48am

xactly...we r at risk,wen we treat a t.b pt.coughing on our faces..wen we got pricked by a heptitis c or b pt....we r at risk more den any body else..many of u bcz of it..bt we r nt given sitare imtiaz,..

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Dr Imran Ahmed

Jul 07, 2012 03:35pm

My advice to YDA. Obey the court. Set a reasonable deadline for the government to implement a fair service structure like you have been doing repeatedly for the last 40 odd years. If the reforms are yet again not forthcoming each single man and woman working as a doctor for the government should tender his/her resignation, faithfully work out the notice period to the letter of the law and then actually leave government service permanently. You are not slaves. I hope you have enough solidarity in your ranks to do this. A few black sheep will inevitable go back tongue wagging, leave them alone, as long as the majority leave the old system will collapse and you can re-build a better one.

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dr.sabiha

Jul 07, 2012 10:59am

@amer w jst needed support of our ppl,wich unfortunatly didnt understand our problms..tnx for ur comment

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IMRAN

Jul 07, 2012 12:08pm

why my comment is still not posted. A British Pakistani

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Shuaib

Jul 07, 2012 12:11pm

why not nishan e haidar!!!!

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Dr Imran Ahmed

Jul 07, 2012 04:00pm

Slavery has been abolished. Under the Law no one can be forced to work, compulsory service is illegal and against Human Rights.

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Muhammad Jafer

Jul 07, 2012 12:28pm

I think doctors should have service structure because its their basic right as a civil servant. I think doctors should have the freedom do anything they want after their job. This is basic human rights. Everybody has their due place in society. Armed forces, police, doctors or any others are professions by choice.

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Dr Imran Ahmed

Jul 07, 2012 04:06pm

The patients deaths without medical care cannot be laid at the feet of doctors. It is the responsibility of the healthcare providers, in this case the department of health. Doctors should keep all their actions lawful and bring down this unfair system if it does not reform. They should leave government service en masse and not return even if their present demands are accepted. They should work to build a better system.

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Daud

Jul 07, 2012 05:30pm

Doctors duties are like Police and Armed forces in a sense that they can not take part in politics. The cannot go on strike. However, their genuine demands must be considered. But the callous attitude doctors exhibited towards the poor masses has left the general public think that doctors r very greedy and indifferent towards poors. In Punjab doctors are getting more pay than any other province of Pakistan. YDA leader consider themselves political leader their agenda is to fail Shahbaz Shair on he behest of Imran Khan.

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Ercelan

Jul 07, 2012 02:03pm

why a ban on private practice which cannot be enforced? why not the same rule as applied to bureaucracy: private consultation with permission and a certain percentage of fee to be returned to government?

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faisal

Jul 07, 2012 01:34pm

People must know few realities young Doctors in punjab are already getting starting grade 18 and pay equal to 10 - 15 year old serving officer of armed forces. Why doctors need everything. yes of course somethings are missing like service structure. but every pakistani must know that there are other people who are not even closer to pays structure of doctor. Protest is everyone's right but morally can't be acceptable during their duty hours due to nature of their job.

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Shazad

Jul 07, 2012 01:23pm

Dear this is an issue of income sharing. If one doctor gets pay raise etc from government and then sits in his own private clinic also then takes the potential income share of other doctor who is not working with government and only runs his private clinic. Other government staffs other than doctors don't run any other offices/ businesses usually, so don't compare with other public servants when it comes to pay, promotion etc.

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Muhammad Jafer

Jul 07, 2012 12:31pm

I agree Specially people in university should have mandatory civil services. But that does and will not make us heroes because we are just be paying our dues to the state

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Dr. K

Jul 07, 2012 12:58pm

Dr. Hiba and all in this blog, blogging, I'm a doctor also and it was my choice to chose this profession knowing the risks and outcomes. I worked hard and still doing. Worked at Jinnah Hospital and then at Liaquat. Yes, I worked in TB wards and also worked with Hep B and C patients and still doing it. But we take precautions dealing with sick patients and their angry family members. I had also been threatened and even beaten up and lost a tooth. I have been working as a doc for about 14 years now and still places IVs and draw blood to help my staff but never ever got pricked because I take precautions. Yes, a doctor must be treated with respect by police and others also but you/we are DOCTORS, and boycotting your duties is inhumane, and the blood of all those killed is on your hands. Imagine if you in the ER with your love ones and the doctors are on strike and you lose your sick family member?

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Shuaib

Jul 07, 2012 12:18pm

Dr. Sahiba,, earn your respect, do not snatch it!!! With respect, this is'nt the way to expect support

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Shuaib

Jul 07, 2012 10:36am

Man, everybody in Pakistan is performing his/her duties under "unfavourable conditions". What about all those patients sufferings??? So do not just get into this sort of argument. Praise everybody in this country....pause, except RULERS!!

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Cyrus Howell

Jul 07, 2012 10:27am

Not to mention guns pointed in their faces and doctors being kidnapped.

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nida

Jul 07, 2012 10:27am

doctors just need proper service structure, @Shahid I know the toufest schedul and the risk of doctors very well but what would you say about the patiants who lose their lives due to the unavailability or ignorance of doctors?

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IMRAN

Jul 07, 2012 10:29am

IN FUTURE YDA WILL ALWAYS FEEL GUILTY FOR THE LOSS OF INNOCENT LIVES ESPECIALLY THAT OF CHILDREN AND POOR PEOPLE OF PUNJAB. YDA SHOULD HAVE GONE TO LAHORE HIGH COURT TWO YEARS BACK RATHER SAYING NOW THAT THEY HAVE FULL FAITH IN LAHORE HIGH COURT. IS IT NOT A FACT THAT YOUNG DOCTORS IN PUNJAB ARE PAID THE HIGHEST IN COMPARISON TO DOCTORS OF OTHER PROVINCES OF PAKISTAN. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT MAJORITY OF THESE DOCTORS HAVE BECOME DOCTORS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SPENT 25 LAKHS RUPESS ON EACH DOCTOR. LASTLY YDA WOULD HAVE FELT THE AGONY AND PAIN FOR THE LOST PATIENTS ONLY IF THE PATIENTS BELONGED TO YDA MEMBERS. YDA WANTED MORE MONEY AND SERVICE STRUCTURE AT THE COST OF INNOCENT AND POOR PATIENTS OF PUNJAB AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET IT. NO WHERE HAPPENS IN THE WORLD LIKE THIS. YDA NOW ENJOY YOUR NEW SERVICE STRUCTURE AFTER LOSING MORE THEN 20 LIVES. I HOPE MOJORITY OF YDA MEMBERS WILL BE ASHAMED IF THEY ANY HUMAN CONSCIENCE LEFT IN THEM. A BRITISH PAKISTANI

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Shuaib

Jul 07, 2012 10:18am

Congrats to people who cannot afford private doctors.

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skylark

Jul 07, 2012 10:18am

Bacteria and viruses are far more killers to deal with ; far more RISKY TO LIFE than catching a thief specially IN A CROWDED HOSPITAL CLINIC WHERE THERE IS tremendous LACKING IN BASIC SANITATION ( i got some pics from public clinics in gurjunwallah)

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faisal

Jul 07, 2012 10:16am

I think if doctor perform their duties efficiently as they performing while doing private practice and making their attitude and behavior toward patients soft just as they do while doing private practice then i believe everyone will take their relatives or parents to goverment hospital and to the problem of queue it only occur if the doctors which are supposed to be opd in their duty hours are not available. So dear doctors please change your attitude toward patient while dealing patient in govt hospital just like as you deal in your private practice because money is not the only thing that matters.

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Shuaib

Jul 07, 2012 10:25am

Stop this debate of gaining SYMPATHIES. Everybody has chosen his/her profession, keeping in mind risks and rewards and everything else is a mere lame excuse.

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skylark

Jul 07, 2012 10:09am

Actually we are the lowest paid in both INDIA & PAKISTAN . BOTH COUNTRIES politicians are corrupt ,they have spend 1.3% gdp for health care against 7% gdp in most developed countiires and make vote banks poltics ! they would like to work the young doctors in overcrowded hospitals that have no infrastructure..they brain wash the public with cheap propaganda and make them as villain image! i FEEL VERY SAD STATE THAT EVEN ELECTRONIC MEDIA AND TALK SHOWS HAVE JOINED THE BANDWAGON! THESE SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE AND HEALTH NEEDS TO GET PRIORITY! DOCTORS ARE TO BE PAID AT LEAST TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE! what rs50k can do? where 99 per 1 usd

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Khalid

Jul 07, 2012 10:10am

Dear what is the objection to private practice? After my duty i can do any job of my choice like trading, teaching , taxi driver or to take rest in home

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Muhammad

Jul 07, 2012 09:00am

Yes, The government should provide a proper service structure but the Doctors are not like the Police and Armed Forces. Police and Armed Forces put their lives everyday in harms way and many lost their lives as well in the line of duty, while on the other hand Doctors generally don't. Thanks

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farhanshahidkhan

Jul 07, 2012 09:06am

they should be offered a service structure only on the condition that they won't do private practice

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Anonymous

Jul 07, 2012 09:11am

Doctors are NOT like the Police and Armed Forces because they tend to the ill, that including Police and Armed Forces. They actually undergo the most rigorous education system. They deserved to be rewarded for the hours and time they put in.

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Amer

Jul 07, 2012 09:14am

I do congratulate Doctors and do appreciate for peaceful demand for their Rights. Please Compromise with the best possible manners for the Sake of our People but Yes keep moving Forward to have best Results for your Rights and Remember we have to do our Best for our People. Doctors have to Use their Think Tanks and Develop different Methodologies and such a hierarchy that in Future such incidents will not Happen Again. i.e. In the Board of Decision makers Other than Doctors Must have at least University Degree and or Equivalent Qualification, must have experience of at least 30 hours in last five years sitting with doctor in outdoor and or other parts to have at least basic knowledge how the Doctors works.

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Shehzad

Jul 07, 2012 09:33am

Dear Muhammad, Doctors are life savers so they deserve more respect and proper pay. But yes I agree with farhanshhidkhan that Govt. doctors should not be allowed to run their private practices if govt. fullfil their demands.

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Dr Naveed Aziez

Jul 07, 2012 09:34am

So you don't need doctors?? What a poor thought process.... exudes ignorance,intolerance and lack of common sense. This same attitude is prevalent throughout the government of Punjab Doctors have been exploited for 50 years it is high time people wake up to this injustice..... Doctors also need to have a respectable existence in your society. They can neither take bribes on the roads nor do they get big homes on retirement. They serve the masses tirelessly and have no hope of ever being in a position where they could get instantly rich istantly.......and don't ever forget .....THEY are the smartest people in your country....

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m ali

Jul 07, 2012 09:36am

When considering the present strike and your comments, I would say: (1) Armed forces and Police put their lives in danger to save of others. (2) Young doctors take other people lives - just for what ...???

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Shahid

Jul 07, 2012 09:36am

You don't know the duties of doctors. The doctors are at much more risk of lives every day than police and armed forces by life threatening diseases from highly infected patients and bad working conditions at our hospitals.

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Ercelan

Jul 07, 2012 09:39am

courts again intervene in executive matters and in violation of the constitutional and international right to associate for collective bargaining. there is a simpler way out in the long run - compulsory public service by all, and not just doctors, who receive college and university education, private and public since both are subsidised by taxes on the poor. Iran does it, Turkey does it, why cant we?

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Amer

Jul 07, 2012 09:40am

Everything cannot be perfect but our wise decisions can bring the better solutions. We need their love, smiles and professionalism. We want to see them happy for their hardship. Our opinions can be different but our mutual interest makes our goals same and brings unity in our living. Let’s move forward and congratulate our doctors for gaining their peaceful demands. Let’s be honest and optimistic for our nation.

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Dr Aniqa

Jul 07, 2012 09:40am

If doctors like consultants are not going to do their private practice then where these educated and upper class people are going to take their parents who are on regular medication? Will you take your family to government overloaded hospitals? Will you take your children to government paediatrics outpatient rooms waiting long for your turn? If you all agree then it will be ok.

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Fasih Siddiqui

Jul 07, 2012 09:42am

@Muhammad So according to you all the facilities being provided to civil servants other than police officials should be revoked as well because their work isn't as dangerous as that of the police and armed forces? Doctor's deserve a proper and respectable pay and service structure akin to all the other government employees. It takes hard work to become a doctor, not to mention the countless hours of service and "over-service" that follow. @farhanshahidkhan The lack of significant incentives in the public sector is what led to doctors entering private practice in the first place.

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Dr Hiba

Jul 07, 2012 09:50am

May be u r right that our life is not at risk now! But we have risked the beauty of our whole life since we were very young, when we preferred working hard in our school days and u were playing outdoor. We were bz in making noxious gases in labs in college and u were enjoying college life ,the golden time. When we were caged in medical colleges for years , u were not. We still in a kind of professional life where we are on duty for long hrs and in night holding books at home with our kids ...When our kids are blaming us for not providing both the facilities and our time. appearing for exams the whole life. It's not over with graduation my brother! we are still students when even mom ! Its not ez. U also don't take it very ez

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ahsan

Jul 07, 2012 09:56am

the govt should provide a service structure and due respect to doctors. doctors are performing their duties in very unfavourable conditions in Pakistan so please acknowledge their services and release all doctors.

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Bush

Jul 07, 2012 06:26pm

Seems like you have been watching alot of our news channels lately..do not base your opinion ONLY on what these channels tell you.

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Bush

Jul 07, 2012 06:28pm

Rightly said

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Bush

Jul 07, 2012 06:30pm

My thoughts exactly!

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