ISLAMABAD: Despite obtaining an attested copy of an order issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) the registrar and staff of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) were barred from entering their office for a third day by the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS).

Employees contacted the capital administration and the police, but were told by both to reach out to the ministry to have the issue addressed.

The PML-N, meanwhile, has demanded contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Imran Khan for not making the PMDC operational despite clear and strict orders to this effect from the court.

The IHC order, which is available with Dawn, stated that the council registrar may resume service along with a minimal number of staff because of the coronavirus outbreak.

On March 30, an IHC bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani during a contempt plea gave the government an hour to open the PMDC, and warned that the concerned officials could be imprisoned.

The building was unsealed and the IHC informed in writing, and the council’s registrar was directed to visit the NHS ministry on March 31 to finalise matters.

However, after a six-hour wait on that day, PMDC Registrar retired Brig Hafizuddin Siddiqui was informed by NHS Secretary Dr Tanveer Ahmed Qureshi that a letter on a day-to-day work basis would be issued after a written order from the IHC, and was asked to visit the ministry again on April 1.

Former PMDC registrar Azhar Ali Shah, who visited the ministry with Mr Siddiqui, told Dawn on Wednesdaythat they got to the ministry at 10am.

“We were informed that the secretary was in a meeting so we waited there, and by noon we decided to go to the PMDC as we had received the written IHC order and were hoping we would now be allowed to enter the office. We came across the NHS secretary on the stairs, but Dr Qureshi said he was busy and could not spare time for us,” he said.

Mr Shah said they then went to the PMDC, but the guards did not let them in.

Employees who had reached the office as well, who sought help from the administration and police on the grounds that they had a court order, were told they should contact the ministry.

Mr Shah said that Dr Qureshi later called them to the ministry, but matters could not be finalised and they were told to visit the ministry again today (Thursday).

“We will go to the ministry again on Thursday and if the issue fails to get resolved we will approach the IHC again,” he said.

Mr Siddiqui told the media that it was unfortunate that he and the council staff were not being allowed to enter the office despite a court order.

In addition, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has demanded contempt proceedings against Mr Khan. In a statement, she said that the court issued unambiguous and strict orders but the prime minister and health minister were standing in the way of the PMDC’s revival.

She said that council has been revived as well but is not being allowed to work properly. Ms Aurangzeb said that while the novel coronavirus is gaining strength in Pakistan, the country does not have a regulatory body for health.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020