The Sindh High Court chief justice (CJ) on Friday took suo motu notice of the alleged abuse of a lady doctor and paramedic in Umerkot a day earlier by district and sessions court staff on court premises.

Dr Kiran and Lady Health Visitor (LHV) Tejan, staffers at District Headquarters Hospital Umerkot, alleged in a press conference that they were taken by police officers from their homes to the judicial complex, where they were verbally and physically abused by court officials and police on the pretext of denying to visit the residence of a civil judge for treatment of his son.

The Sindh High Court CJ took suo motu notice of the case after videos of the lady doctor and paramedic went viral on social media, and electronic and print media reported on the incident.

General Secretary District Bar Association Umerkot Advocate Zulfiqar Gajoo, while speaking to Dawn, said that the bar had passed a resolution during a meeting demanding an inquiry into the matter by a Sindh High Court judge instead, as they had reservations over the appoint of an Umerkot district and sessions judge to probe the matter. He added that a delegation of the association would soon meet the SHC CJ.

Advocate Shoukat Rahimoon of the District Bar Association of Mirpurkhas condemned the alleged torture of the doctor and paramedic by court staff. He said that it was unfortunate that judicial staff were allegedly involved in the unlawful act, as courts are a place where justice is provided.

The Pakistan Medical Association and Paramedical Association Umerkot have taken out a rally from Civil Hospital to the press club. They also boycotted the Out-Patient Department and demanded justice for the hospital staffers.

The protest was led by Umerkot Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Jam Kumbhar, Dr Kiran, Dr Lela Pardeep and Asif Janjhi of the Paramedical Association Umerkot.

Lawyers to boycott court proceedings

The District Bar Council of Umerkot has announced to observe a complete boycott of court proceedings on Saturday (tomorrow) against what they called an inhuman act of torture on the women health professionals.

Medical Superintendent DHQ Umerkot also wrote a letter to Chief Justice Sindh High Court and other concerned, in which it was reportedly mentioned that the hospital staff was tortured in the court room on the orders of District and Session Judge.