SHC unsatisfied with report on deaths in Thar

Court wants comprehensive reports filed by May 18

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court [SHC] expressed dissatisfaction over a report submitted on Thursday by the provincial authorities regarding the drought-hit parts of Tharparkar and sought comprehensive reports from the health and food secretaries by May 18.

A two-member bench, headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, also sought details from the provincial authorities regarding medical officers posted in Tharparkar district during the hearing of a petition on the mass deaths of children there.

Chief Justice Shaikh expressed annoyance at the officials who showed up during the hearing. He was piqued over the absence of the Tharparkar deputy commissioner.



Meanwhile, Additional Advocate-General Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar submitted a report prepared by the Tharparkar deputy commissioner to the bench and assured it that the deputy commissioner will appear on the next hearing.

The report, compiled in accordance with SHC's April 25 order, read that around 80 children died this year so far in Tharparkar, contending that the basic reasons behind the deaths were absence of reliable transport, early marriages and malnutrition.

It maintained that shortage of medics in the district was also one of the major factors as the provincial government could not fill the posts since the Sindh Public Service Commission remained dysfunctional on the directives of the Supreme Court.



It added, however, that a commission was in place and it will not take long to fill these vacancies and that that there was also shortage of ambulances in the district.

The SHC had called for the report, expressing displeasure over the state of affairs in Tharparkar regarding dying children, unfair distribution of wheat and non-availability of water, health and education facilities.