LAHORE, July 10: The Punjab government has filed a review petition against a Lahore High Court’s July 7 order wherein the court suspended all terminations, suspensions and show-cause notices issued to striking young doctors by the government.

The review petition filed through the Punjab advocate general says the order issued by Justice Ijazul Ahsan left many questions which needed to be answered.

It says the court issued directions on matters to be taken up by the services tribunal. The government stated the order also gave an impression that doctors could not be booked in any case as they enjoyed immunity under the Punjab Health Care Commission Act, 2010.

It referred to a recent incident wherein young doctors tortured a Special Branch employee at Services Hospital and also held him in illegal detention. Whether the doctors also enjoyed immunity against registration of a case in such incidents, the petition put a question.

The review petition further pointed out that the petitions heard by the court had sought action against the young doctors and cancellation of their licenses only but the court, ignoring the prayer, extended relief to young doctors which was never sought by anyone.

The government requested the court to clarify its July 7 order explaining the queries mentioned in the review petition.

withdrawn: The Lahore High Court chief justice has withdrawn contempt of court proceedings initiated against a Ministry of Religious Affairs joint secretary and accepted his unconditional apology.

The chief justice in his order said: “The joint secretary states the words ‘any adverse conclusion drawn there from would, in itself, be arbitrary, and biased’ in his letter dated July 3, 2012, is not meant to express any opinion whatsoever on the orders or proceedings of the court.”

“He submits that he does not seek to justify the said orders and tenders his unconditional apology to the court for using the said words in his written communication and submits himself at the mercy of this court,” the order added.

Joint Secretary Sher Ali had criticised the court in his written reply in response to petitions against the ministry for allotting Haj quota among private tour operators in violation of court’s directions.