A hope of settlement between doctors and lawyers emerged on the 16th day of the strike by doctors of the Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZH), as a meeting of the stakeholders continued till late night on Saturday. The doctors of Sheikh Zayed Hospital have been on strike for not withdrawing the First Information Report (FIR) against five senior doctors of the hospital who were nominated in a murder case registered in the Muslim Town Police Station. The accused doctors have charges of committing criminal negligence in the treatment of deceased lawyer Rafique Khokhar, who died after being operated in the hospital for intestinal tuberculosis.
Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Dr Javed Akram and some journalists are mediating between the two parties and representatives of doctors and lawyers met them in Jinnah Hospital on Saturday. The doctors were requested to end the strike to relieve the agonies of patients suffering from the strike. The doctors were assured that the case would be withdrawn by the complainant. During the strike, the doctors have been boycotting all the wards, operation theatres and outpatient departments (OPD). Only the Emergency and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital have been functional during these days. Dr Javed Akram told Pakistan Today that he took the initiative to resolve the issue and met with representatives of doctors’ organisations and fellow lawyers of the deceased in his office along with some journalists. Dr Muzammil of SZH said that the doctors have asked the mediators to bring the complainant and his supporting lawyers on table-talk as well. He said that the doctors needed a guarantee by the complainant and a meeting was due on Sunday (today) in this regard, after which a decision would be taken.
