Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday took notice of an attack by lawyers on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore.
According to Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Salman Haseeb, four patients lost their lives due to the violent protest.
The chief minister ordered an investigation into the attack and summoned a report from the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and provincial secretary of specialised health and medical education. The premier summoned a report from the provincial chief secretary and inspector general.
The lawyers were protesting against a video that went viral on social media yesterday, in which a doctor is seen narrating an encounter with some lawyers in front of a group. According to the doctor in the video, a group of lawyers had gone to the inspector general and told him to charge “two doctors” under Section 7 of ATA. He narrated that the IG had refused while the lawyers had urged him to press charges, saying “they could save face” that way.
A large number of lawyers gathered outside PIC on Wednesday to protest against the “mocking video”. The protest, however, turned violent as the lawyers initially closed off entry and exit points to the hospital.
The protesters also damaged equipment inside, and broke windows of the hospital as well as cars parked outside. Protesters smashed doors of emergency theatres and staff had to run out to save themselves, according to reports.
Patients, some in ambulances, were unable to reach the hospital while those receiving treatment were left unattended due to the chaos.
The lawyers also attacked media personnel on the site with stones. A DawnNewsTV female reporter, Kinza Malik, was injured and her phone was snatched from her.
Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan, who had arrived at the hospital, said that “lawyers had tried to kidnap” him. In a video, he can be seen being manhandled by a group of protesting lawyers.
Police are using tear gas and baton charge in an attempt to disperse the lawyers, who are still gathered at the hospital in a large number. The president and secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association are currently at PIC and are trying to disperse the angry lawyers from the hospital.
Lahore DIG Operations also arrived at the hospital. He said that those who took the law into their own hands will be dealt with strongly.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid is also at the hospital.
Young Consultants Association (YCA) announced a nationwide strike after the violent protest. President of the YCA Dr Hammad Butt said that tomorrow no consultant will be on duty all across Punjab. “The vandalism by lawyers is highly condemnable,” said Dr Butt.
Chief Minister Buzdar, who was in Islamabad to hold meetings with PTI MNAs, assured that action will be taken against those responsible for the violence. When asked why the government had not taken notice of tensions between doctors and lawyers, Buzdar said that the matter had been resolved.
‘Unbelievable scenes’
People took to social media to express their concern and called for action to be against the lawyers.
Journalist Ali Salman Alvi said there should have been “ruthless police action” against the lawyers who held the PIC under siege.
Journalist Mohammad Malick also said the lawyers “must be made to pay for their crimes”.
“One poor woman has already Lost her life cause doctors ran away in fear of their lives,” Malick lamented.
