MULTAN, May 23: Doctors at the Nishtar Medical College and Hospital went on a strike for an indefinite period from Friday night against what they alleged high-handedness of the area police.
The strike call has been given by the local chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association after a clash with police.
A Cantonment police contingent had reportedly stormed into the hospital’s emergency ward and manhandled some doctors without any apparent reason.
Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that Dr Naeem and Dr Javed Muneer exchanged harsh words over the turn of patients at the outdoor of the emergency ward. The latter wanted to examine a patient first whom he had brought with some police officials while the former was already examining a patient and asked the ‘impatient’ doctor to wait for a while so that he could vacate the room.
At this, Dr Javed and his accompanying policemen started beating Dr Naeem. Soon the doctors on duty in the ward and at the OPD rushed to rescue Dr Naeem who by that time had been given a sound thrashing. The doctors also were involved in the scuffle with the policemen and Dr Javed.
Meanwhile, doctors and paramedics, including the PMA office-bearers, rushed to the emergency ward. Eye-witnesses said Dr Javed called Cantonment police ASP Javed Jiskani by his cell phone.
The ASP reached the troubled spot along with more than 30 policemen and elite force personnel, beat up doctors and handcuffed some of them.
In the meantime, Nishtar Hospital Principal Executive Officer Dr Shabbir Nasir arrived there and asked the ASP how dared he enter the hospital without his permission. Eye-witnesses said the ASP also abused the PEO and showed no mercy to restrain his force from further assault.
The police and doctors pelted stones on each other. Consequently, the ASP’s official jeep was damaged while the in-service doctors and students of the medical college forced the police to retreat from the hospital premises. They also ransacked the police post situated inside the hospital.
During the clash, PMA Punjab President Dr Syed Muhammad Ali, Dr Ghaffar, Dr Irfan, Dr Muhammad Ali and Dr Omair were injured. The condition of Dr Muhammad Ali was stated to be serious, as the police allegedly hit him on his head with the butts.
Later, SP (City) Ashaar Hameed reached the spot and he, along with Dr Shabbir Nasir and Dr Syed Muhammad Ali, controlled the situation. He assured the doctors that the accused police officials would be penalised.
However, the Nishtar doctors and PMA office-bearers waited for registration of the case till 9pm at the Cantonment police station.
Later, the hospital’s additional medical superintendent submitted a complaint against the ASP and other police officials to the clerk on duty at the police station.
Speaking at a press conference later, PMA Punjab President Dr Muhammad Ali flayed the police ‘high-handedness’ and demanded a judicial probe.
He also demanded registration of a case against ASP Javed Jiskani and other officials and suspension of the ASP. He said the doctors would observe a complete strike for an indefinite period.
However, emergency treatment would be provided to the patients.
On the other hand, the police authorities have been silent over the incident. When this correspondent tried to contact senior police officials, no one was available for comments.