SC summons Sindh chief secy, others in Thar deaths case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Sindh chief secretary as well as the secretaries of the finance, health, works and services, and population departments to appear before it in a case pertaining to the deaths of children owing to malnutrition in Tharparkar.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, directed the top officials to turn up before it on October 11.

The chief justice remarked that he would himself visit Tharparkar to examine the situation in the drought-hit district of Sindh province.

MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani told the judges that there is a need to establish basic health centers at the level of villages in Tharparkar. Thar is the place where one could find every kind of drug available the world over, he claimed.

He said the health department alone couldn’t address the situation as the participation of other departments in relief efforts would be necessary.

CJP asked the Attorney General of Pakistan what role could the court play in this situation.

At this, the chief federal law officer replied hospitals are constructed in Tharparkar but doctors are not available, adding that one can find big machines at health facilities but not operators to run them.

He suggested that the district and session judge of Mithi be called to brief the top court about the current situation there.