Four patients dead as lawyers attacks Lahore hospital

LAHORE: The dispute between lawyers and young doctors on Wednesday turned violent as a mob of angry lawyers stormed the emergency ward of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore.

The lawyers vandalised public property, set a police vehicle on fire, and attacked provincial information minister Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan.

Chohan who arrived at the hospital to diffuse the situation was manhandled by the lawyers who tore his clothes and hair. The minister could be seen escorted away from the hospital.

“They tried to kidnap me,” Chohan said in a statement. “I came to deal with the situation and they started abusing me.”

Following the attack, a woman died due to lack of medical attention, while several patients were forced out of the building to sit on footpaths.

The deceased woman’s son said his mother complained of pain after which he tried to get hold of a doctor but they went on a strike due to the attack.

Police arrested more than a dozen lawyers after hours of continued violence, and unblocked the road. Punjab government also summoned Rangers personnel to maintain law and order.

Police officials appeared helpless as a swarm of lawyers broke the entrance of the hospital. The situation spread fear among the patients when lawyers raised slogans in different wards leading to many scheduled surgeries of cardiac patients being stopped.

The protesting lawyers also shattered windows of out-patient department (OPD) wards, as well as many vehicles present inside the hospital. There were reports of casualties at the emergency ward of the hospital and multiple injuries to people.

Prime Minister, Chief Minister take notice

Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken notice of the incident and ordered Punjab chief secretary and Inspector General Punjab to submit a report of the incident.

The prime minister has also summoned an emergency meeting in wake of the Lahore attack, and instructed to identify those behind the incident and take adequate action against them. 

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident and ordered strict action against the culprits for creating chaos at the hospital.  Buzdar had shortened his visit to Islamabad and returned to Lahore. 

Buzdar has ordered the formation of an investigative committee into the institute at the hospital under provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat.

Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, IG police and additional chief secretary interior are also part of the committee. The committee will investigate the incident and submit the report to the chief minister. 

The Punjab chief minister said no one was above the law and that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident today.  He said that it was a criminal activity to stop the patients from receiving treatment.