THQ medics resume duty after 'mob attack'.

SAHIWAL -- Doctors and paramedic staff conditionally resumed duties at the emergency ward and dialysis unit of the Arifwala THQ Hospital on Tuesday evening after closing the departments for seven hours.

The medics had suspended duties after a mob of 20 to 25 men vandalised the premises on Tuesday morning alleging that their patient had died due to doctors' negligence.Although Pakpattan Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Athar claimed the matter had been resolved, office-bearers of the Arifwala Young Doctors Association (YDA) demanded registration of a first information report (FIR) against the attackers.

YDA General Secretary Dr Shabbir Wattoo told Dawn they had given 24 hours to the hospital and civil administration. Arifwala Assistant Commissioner Aleeza Rehan said a case would be registered after identification of the attackers through CCTV footage.

Riaz, 45, a resident of Asadullah Pull, Qabola, was a kidney patient and was getting his dialysis done for seven years from the hospital. On Sunday, Riaz's condition deteriorated and he was taken to the hospital where he was admitted and treated.

When his condition did not stabilise the next day, doctors referred him to Sahiwal DHQ Teaching Hospital. Records showed the patient's kidneys had failed. His relatives instead of taking him to the Sahiwal hospital allegedly took him back home.

When his condition deteriorated again, they took him back to the THQ hospital on Tuesday where doctors told them again to take him to Sahiwal and arranged a hospital emergency van. However, Riaz died on the way on...