Lahore (March 09, 2018): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar paid a surprise visit to two government hospitals in the Punjab capital on Friday. CJP also ordered the audit of medical colleges by an independent chartered firm to inquire about fee structures and charges.
A three-member bench headed by the chief justice was hearing suo motu cases on various public welfare issues when the chief justice decided to pay a surprise visit to the city’s hospitals.
Accompanied by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali, the chief justice of Pakistan first visited Services Hospital where he inspected various wards, including the emergency department.
While interacting with patients, a woman approached the chief justice asking for monetary assistance for medical treatment. Chief Justice Nisar assured the woman of help and directed the relevant authorities to provide her services free-of-charge.
Later, as the chief justice arrived at the government-run Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), he expressed displeasure at the absence of wheelchairs at the institute’s entrance.
Inside, patients complained to the chief justice of various issues faced by them after which he directed the hospital administration to resolve the patients’ problems.
Earlier, while hearing the hearing suo moto case against hefty charges for delivering services by medical colleges, CJP said that the fees should not be too high as to rob poor students’ pockets. He remarked that the medical education has become a business which is deplorable as it is a life-saving profession.
He further said that the medical colleges are producing mediocre lot and the doctors nowadays have no idea how to check something as petty as blood pressure.
The chief justice had in December last year paid a similar visit to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital to inspect facilities there. The move had drawn criticism from various quarters, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz.
During the hearing, the chief justice also referred to his Baba Rahmatay [wise old man] remarks, stating that he will explain today the meaning of the term and why he used it.
Chief Justice Nisar remarked that Baba Rahmatay is a person who resolves people’s problems, explaining that he borrowed the term from writer Ashfaq Ahmad’s work.
The chief justice added that he does not care about comments in the media regarding his use of the term, saying he will continue to work for public welfare regardless of public opinion.
The chief justice had referred to the judiciary as Baba Rahmatay during an address to lawyers in Lahore in January this year.
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