Lawyers storm emergency ward of Lahore hospital, patient dies

LAHORE: A group of lawyers stormed the emergency ward of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Wednesday under mysterious circumstances as police officials deployed at the hospital stood down and let the mob of black coats enter the health facility, Geo News reported.

In videos circulating on social media of the incident, police officials, clad in riot gear, were rendered helpless as a swarm of lawyers, outnumbering the law enforcement personnel, broke the entrance of the PIC.

A woman passed away at the emergency ward of the hospital as a result of the confusion and fear that spread inside the facility as the lawyers broke into the building. It was not immediately clear why the group of lawyers stormed the cardiology hospital.

Reports from the hospital suggested that the lawyers broke the windows of the emergency ward, as well as damaging the cars parked at the hospital. There were reports of multiple injuries to people as well, according to eye-witnesses who spoke to Geo News.

Fayyaz Chohan attacked

Punjab Minister for Information Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan who arrived at the hospital was manhandled by the lawyers who tore at his clothes and hair. The provincial minister could be seen escorted away from the hospital.

"I tried to mediate on the directions of the chief minister but they [lawyers] thrashed me," he said. "They tried to kidnap me and even opened fire at me."

Chohan said that the government will register FIRs against all responsible for the violence and hand them exemplary punishments.

Chohan said that he reached the hospital and had 10 lawyers arrested. The minister said that he had the lawyers arrested for their protection against police shelling.

"When I ran from the lawyers because they tried to kidnap me, I heard shots being fired," he said. "The blame for this violence goes to the lawyers. We will register FIRs against them."

Prime Minister Imran takes notice of the clash, summons meeting

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. 

Punjab Chief Minister Usman 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.

Buzdar added that it was a criminal activity to stop the patients from receiving treatment.