Docs take out protest rally, demand former minister's arrest

Work at SMHS Hospital here was affected for a few hours today as doctors went on a strike and took out a protest rally demanding stern action against former Jammu and Kashmir minister of State for Health Shabir Khan, accused in a sexual assault case.
The doctors working at the hospital demanded immediate arrest of Khan who resigned yesterday after a lady doctor alleged he made an attempt to molest her in his office.
Work at the hospital was disrupted for some time but emergency services remained unaffected.
"We warn the government that if Khan is not arrested today, we will go on a strike and even shut down emergency services," president of the Doctors' Association Kashmir (DAK) Nissar-ul-Hassan told reporters.

He demanded a probe by a judicial commission into the "disgraceful act".
"The entire society is in a state of shock. The incident has tarnished the image of health institutions," he said.
The DAK president said resignation by the minister was a "mere eye-wash" as earlier such incidents have shown that the government had given "plump postings to officials involved in sex scandals and rape".
He claimed the incident had caused fear among lady doctors who did not want to go for work as "they feel unsafe after this dastardly act".