Lahore High Court orders doctors to call off strike

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the young doctors to call of their strike immediately.

During the hearing of a case regarding the young doctors’ strike, the doctors created a racket in the courtroom, leading them to be led out of the court.

Punjab Health Secretary told the court that everyone was included while the Medical Teachings Institutions (MIT) law was made, however, there was a specific group that was going on strike.

To this, Justice Jawad Hassan said the court was standing with the government. “There is dengue, smog and other issues in the city but the doctors are on strike,” he remarked.

“How can there be a strike? The ordinance came on September 2, so the strike was pre-mature,” he said.

The court then said the strike was not valid under the constitution. “We have already said professionals cannot go on a strike,” the court said.

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Secretary health told the court they had constituted a committee. To this, the court ordered that all the stakeholders should be involved in this, adding the committee should conduct a two-day workshop and prepare the draft after listening to all the stakeholders.

The court further ordered the committee to submit the final draft and report on November 23 and directed the doctors not to go on strike in the meantime as it would lead to imprisonment for contempt of court.

The court then adjourned the hearing till December 2.

Earlier this year, the Punjab government signed into effect the MIT Ordinance 2019.

According to the reform plan, government hospitals in Punjab will now be run under a Board of Governors, who will be appointed from the private sector and will be responsible for overseeing the management of these hospitals.