Doctors strike; LHC summons YDA representatives on 7th.

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday summoned representatives of Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Nov 7 on a petition seeking directions for action against doctors in the wake of the ongoing strike by them.

The court also summoned senior officers of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Medical Commission on the next date of hearing.

Justice Jawad Hassan passed the orders while hearing a petition filed by Judicial Activism Panel, a public-interest litigation firm.

At the start of the proceedings, Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education (SH and ME) Department Additional Secretary Salman Shahid appeared before the court on being summoned.

He stated that a committee had been constituted and a hearing was being afforded to the YDA to resolve the issue, which started after the promulgation of the Medical Teaching Institutions Ordinance.

A law officer on behalf of the SH and ME department submitted that the ordinance would take time to be implemented after the formation of rules.

He submitted that the YDA's actions were not only uncalled for but also premature. If they were aggrieved of the ordinance, then they could challenge the same before the appropriate forum, he added.

At this, the court observed that doctors were responsible for saving lives of people, then how they could observe strike. The court asked about the actions taken against the doctors so far.

To which, a provincial law officer submitted that no action had been taken by the authorities against the YDA under the Punjab Essential Services ( Maintenance Act) 1958.

In response to the court's query, the...