LAYYAH: The death of a man and his son due to alleged negligence by doctors resulted in violent protest by the relatives of the deceased.

The protesters beat up District Surgeon Dr Gulzar Sirati, Dr Nadir and Dr Tehseen and protested by placing the bodies in front of the DHQ hospital casualty department.

Illahi Bakhsh, 50, and his son Muhammad Younis, 23, residents of Karor tehsil’s Basti Qazi, were coming to Layyah city by motorcycle when it collided with a camel cart near Kazmi Chowk. Critically injured, both of them were taken to the DHQ hospital emergency where the duty doctor examined them and sent for District Surgeon Dr Gulzar Sirati, an on-call consultant. But Dr Sirati told the duty doctor that he was on leave and Dr Ramzan, another surgeon, was supposed to reach there.

The injured breathed their last amid confusion about who was to attend them. Their relatives exchanged a word with the doctors and, according to eyewitness Ahmed Bakhsh, beat up Dr Nadir, Dr Tehseen and Dr Sirati. Dr Ramzan also came there and tried to diffuse the situation but he had to flee to avoid being manhandled.

The doctors stopped working and closed the emergency ward in protest. A local journalist, Mohsin told Dawn that 10-year-old Muhammad Zohaib suffering from thalassaemia died unattended.

The doctors resumed duty after negotiations with the police and the district administration.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Javed said both the injured suffered head injuries and they could not survive despite best possible treatment.