Staff Report

LAHORE: The Punjab government claims that 25 doctors have been freed today (Tuesday) after tendering unconditional apology and promising that they will not take part in the strike again.

On the other hand, Young Doctors Association (YDA) has rejected this claim of Punjab government, saying nobody has tendered any apology and that the young doctors' strike will continue till approval of their demands.

According to the provincial government, 25 of 33 doctors arrested on 1st July have been released from jail on the condition that they will not observe any strike again.

The released doctors called on Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Senator Pervaiz Rashid at Chief Minister Secretariat.

Rana Sana told the newsmen, after meeting with the released doctors, that the freed doctors had submitted a written assurance that they would not be a part of the strike in future.

At the other side, a spokesman of the YDA, Dr Mudassir, has said that the government was staging a drama about the release of doctors and those who were set free today, in fact, they were medical students and no doctor was included in those.

The YDA leadership was not released and that the strike would continue until their demands were met, added the YDA sppokesman.

In the mean time, another development took place in favor of the young doctors when a large number of general physicians rallied in Lahore and chanted slogans in support of young doctors and maligning Punjab government's crack down against them. SAMAA