Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, who is representing the group of doctors, said they were questioned from 11.45pm yesterday to 3.50am today, while they were on duty.

While he was there to offer them legal advice and ensure their rights were protected, he said, he was not allowed to enter the centre when they were being questioned.

“Last night’s probe followed a police report filed by a health ministry official, namely the director of the MAEPS quarantine centre, who alleged that the media’s presence at the centre on Monday to cover the strike did not get approval from the higher-ups,” Asheeq said in a statement.

“The investigations were held when the doctors were on duty and in the wee hours of the morning for four hours. I consider this a serious act of intimidation by the health ministry and police.”

He said other doctors from several hospitals would also be called for questioning by police, describing it as inhumane since health minister Dr Adham Baba had promised that no disciplinary action would be taken against those who took part in the strike.

He urged the ministry to instruct the MAEPS centre director to withdraw the police report and for the home ministry as well as police to drop their investigations.

“The doctors are already mentally and physically exhausted. Stop treating them like criminals. The healthcare system is already collapsing, don’t break them further,” Asheeq said.