FAISALABAD, April 30: A legal notice has been served on the Allied Hospital medical superintendent, asking him to take action against the doctors working at the facility who allegedly announced support for some PTI poll candidates at an event held at a local hotel a few days back.

The notice dispatched to the MS reads: “(A) few doctors working in your organization have participated in a political gathering and delivered speeches regarding the election campaign of the PTI…”

The notice also mentioned the names of the PTI candidates present at the meeting including Mumtaz Kahloon, Nisar Akbar, Farrukh Habib, Latif Nazar, Mehboob Alam, Hammad Khan, Rana Babar, Imran Anees and Suleman Arif.

It said the doctors announced their active support for the PTI candidates’ election campaign, saying their act was a clear violation of all rules and regulations and code of conduct for government employees. It demanded the MS should take a ‘stern action’ against these doctors. Some of the Allied Hospital doctors told Dawn that the meeting was called by the Pakistan Medical Association to discuss some professional issues. At the meeting some of the retired and private practicing doctors announced support for the PTI candidates who were also invited to the meeting.

They alleged that the meeting proceedings annoyed some PML-N supporters who sent legal notices to six doctors—five of from working at the Allied Hospital and one working under the city district government.

They said some senior doctors had affiliation with the PML-N and were being pressurised by their ‘mentors’ to stop their juniors from backing the PTI.

PMA spokesman Dr Mohammad Irfan said the meeting was not convened specially for the PTI candidates rather it was held to discuss issues being faced by the fraternity.

He said during the meeting some doctors from private sector had announced their support for the PTI candidates and declared they would convert their hospitals and clinics into sub-offices of the party.

He said none of the doctor working for the state-run institution uttered any word pertaining to political activity of any party.

Dr Irfan condemned issuance of notices by “the PML-N people” and said the PMA officials and members could not be pressurised to cast votes against their will through such tactics.

He said in response to the notices the PMA could not ask any of its members to stop supporting the PTI in their personnel capacity.