Build jail ward at Jinnah hospital in 3 months: SHC

Sindh High Court orders establishment of full-scale ward, warns of 'stern action' if order is violated.

KARACHI: A jail ward must be constructed at the Jinnah hospital within the next three months, ordered the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday.

Hearing a constitutional petition - an offshoot of a complaint by an under trial prisoner (UTP) — a division bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Imam Bux Baloch ordered all officials concerned to ensure that a full-scale ward is established, warning of ‘stern action’ in case the order is violated.

UTP Papoo had earlier complained to an SHC judge, who had been visiting the Central Prison Karachi (CPK), that he was moved from Hyderabad prison to Karachi for treatment but was sent back from the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) without treatment. The written complaint was converted into a constitutional petition and the prison’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) had told the SHC that the complainant was brought to central prison with a firearm injury in his abdomen. Originally imprisoned at Hyderabad, Papoo was operated on in Hyderabad and then brought to Karachi for further treatment. CMO stated that the prisoner was taken to JPMC thrice and once to Civil Hospital, Karachi but was sent back with the advice that he be treated inside the prison.

On a previous hearing, JPMC Executive Director and others informed the bench that such advice was given because of security concerns. Security for prisoners admitted in JPMC is always inadequate. The bench then summoned all officials concerned, who were in attendance on Monday, including IG Prison Ghulam Qadir Thebu, CPK Deputy Superintendant Anwar Mustafa, Project Director Police and Prisons Work Aftab Ahmed, CMO Abdul Sattar and CPK Deputy Director Muhammad Azhar Khan.

The bench was informed by Additional Advocate General (AAG), Sindh Shafi Muhammad Memon that the Sindh government has moved a summary for providing funds for the construction of the ward in JPMC. He said that the summary is likely to be approved within the next 15 days, after which construction will begin.

To a question, the AAG told the bench that the building in which the ward would be constructed is owned by the federal government. The transfer of ownership is under way.

The bench perusing the annexure along with reply by the Sindh government observed that the “administrative order was apparently passed but so far it has not been carried out”.

The hearing was then adjourned with directives to hold another session after three months.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2011.