The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered for restoration of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) in letter and spirit, while the court strictly directed the Ministry of Health authorities to stay away from the council’s affairs.
While pushing back court’s orders, Ministry of National Health Services authorities were dilly-dallying to implement the orders in practical means, on which the council employees filed a contempt petition against the ministry.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of IHC took up the petition and passed very harsh remarks over the failure of the authorities concerned. He seemed annoyed as this was his second order which remained non-complied.
Justice Kayani also prohibited district administration and Islamabad police from any kind of interference in the PMDC.
On February 11, same judge of the high court granted a tremendous respite to council employees while declaring presidential ordinance of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) “null and void”.
In October last year, over 220 employees PMDC suspended under Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) ordinance promulgated by President Dr Arif Alvi. Subsequently the NHS took over the PMDC building overnight and asked for suspension of the services of the council employees.
Justice Kayani directed for evocation of all security barriers fixed by the ministry and de-seal of the PMDC building.
After February 11 verdict, the ministry did not bother to comply which given a push to aggrieved PMDC employees to go in contempt against this deed of the ministry. Subsequently, on March 30, Justice Kayani annoyed over this and had also directed for implementation of the court orders. “The secretary will be sent to jail for six months if the PMDC is not opened in an hour”, he remarked.
However, practical implementation gain become distant dream which forced IHC judge to utilize all jurisdiction of the court as he said the PMDC building should de-seal immediately
In response, Secretary health Tanvir Ahmed Qureshi said as public gathering is prohibited in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic while the PMDC officials don’t bother this and make crowd at the office. “Due to this, we did not allow the staffers to join offices against their respective positions”, Qureshi justified.
Over this, Justice Kayani asked “who are you to determine how many officials should be there”, it’s not your job, the judge said adding that it’s the domain of registrar PMDC who can devise a policy for employee’ strength as per requirement.
He said that due to such autocratic behaviour of the ministry officials, the country repute spoiled all over the world. He also asked city administration and Islamabad police that these days, there is a lot of work they have to do for public welfare that is their fundamental job. “Don’t waste your time in indulging yourself in affairs of such small institution”, Justice Kayani remarked.
Besides this, the judge also warned Registrar PMDC Hafizuddin Siddiqui that the court would also take action against him if he avoided implementation of the orders.
All of sudden joblessness aftermath of said ordinance, perturbed the council employees and they also been staging protests outside the building against the development. Afterwards, with mutual deliberation, the council employees challenged the ordinance in the IHC while the court suspended the ordinance accordingly and directed for restoration of PMDC and services of its employees. But compliance yet seems distance dreams, which is accelerating the hardships of these employees.
According to the details, the PMC presidential ordinance provides an unlimited autonomy to private medical and dental colleges as they will now be able to charge fees of their choice. While they are also free to intake admission in each academic discipline as per their own.
