LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar paid a surprise visit to two government hospitals in the Punjab capital on Friday. A three-member bench headed by the chief justice was hearing suo motu cases on various public welfare issues when the CJ decided to pay a surprise visit to the city’s hospitals. Accompanied by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali, the CJ first visited Services Hospital where he inspected various wards, including the emergency department. While interacting with patients, a woman approached him asking for monetary assistance for medical treatment. Chief Justice Saqib Nisar assured the woman of help and directed the relevant authorities to provide her services free-of-charge. Later, as the CJ arrived at the government-run Punjab Institute of Cardiology, he expressed displeasure at the absence of wheelchairs at the institute’s entrance. Inside, patients complained to the CJ of various issues faced by them after which he directed the hospital administration to resolve the patients’ problems. Earlier, while hearing the issue of high fees at private medical colleges, the CJ summoned a report on the structure of fees at the educational institutes. He 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. Later, the CJ also visited the Red Crescent Medical College in Phoolnagar, between Lahore and Pattoki. At the CJ’s visit, students began protesting against the university administration. He learned from students that they have been charged Rs 2-3 million as fees. Hearing this, Chief Justice Nisar ordered the varsity administration to return the fees exceeding Rs 850,000 and barred it from taking disciplinary action against students without taking the Supreme Court on board. The CJ also ordered the Federal Investigation Agency and Kasur district police officer to probe the issue of exorbitant fees after which one university official was detained. During the visit, the CJ also expressed displeasure at the inadequate facilities present inside the medical college’s operation theatre. Published in Daily Times, March 10th 2018.