LAHORE, Nov 6: The Lahore High Court has restrained young doctors from staging a sit-in and ordered the Young Doctors Association office-bearers to appear before the court on Wednesday (today) to explain as to why they have been resorting to protests in continuous violation of the orders passed by the Supreme Court and the high court.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan issued this order on a petition field by the Punjab government against the unending protest by young doctors and a fresh announcement for staging a sit-in on Wednesday for the fulfillment of their demands about the service structure.

In first part of the hearing on Tuesday morning, the judge issued notices to elected representatives of the YDA and asked them to appear at 1pm. Justice Ahsan resumed hearing at 4pm, but even then no representative turned up.

Punjab Advocate General Ashtar Ausaf informed the court that notices were duly served on YDA office bearers but they refused to receive the same.

The judge took exception to the non-appearance of the young doctors’ leaders and observed that the doctors could not be allowed to play havoc with the lives of patients in the name of better service structure.

Pleading strict action against young doctors, Advocate Azhar Siddique urged the court to issue contempt of court notices to YDA leaders. He said the young doctors had become a political party and had been meeting different political leaders too.

The lawyer said a meeting of YDA leaders with the governor had exposed the political motives of the young doctors. He said the Pakistan Medical and Dental Association had also failed to take any action against the protesting doctors.

Justice Ahsan observed that apparently the young doctors had committed contempt of court, however, keeping in view the matter the court opted to exercise restraint.

The judge restrained the YDA leaders from staging the announced sit-in and directed them to appear at 8am on Wednesday (today) to explain their position.

Earlier, AGP Ashtar Ausaf argued that deliberations for young doctors’ service structure were in progress and conflict on only three demands of the doctors was left to be resolved. He said despite sincere efforts being made by the government, the YDA announced holding a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House.

Mr Ausaf stated the young doctors had not abandoned their protest activities despite the court orders. He prayed to the court to stop doctors from staging the sit-in so that the situation would not worsen.