Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
QUETTA: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday summoned former chief ministers of Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, to appear before the court and explain their role in the development and governance of the province.
Incumbent Chief Minister (CM) Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also appeared in court along with Health Minister Mir Majid Abro. Following the hearing, the two accompanied the chief justice during his visit to hospitals in the provincial capital.
The CJP further questioned the state of health and education facilities in Balochistan during the hearing of the doctors strike case at the Supreme Court's Quetta registry on Monday.
The hearing focused on the deteriorating condition of government hospitals and medical colleges in the province.
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Two different benches at the Quetta registry are hearing the cases, with a three-member bench headed by the CJP hearing civil cases. The bench includes Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah. The other bench is hearing criminal cases, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, including Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mubashir Alam.
During the hearing, the CJP expressed surprise over the closure of Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in government hospitals and remarked that health and water should be given prime importance, and an ordinary citizen should be offered low-cost treatment.
"Unfortunately, our medical colleges lack standard," Justice Nisar added.
During the hearing, the chief justice also expressed his desire to visit hospitals in the province and remarked that Balochistan is important to them.
The CJP also probed the health secretary regarding the number of ventilators and Electronic Control Units (ECU) in government hospitals and asked, "who will tend to the patients if the doctors are on strike?"
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CJP further remarked that the health sector should seek assistance from the government for improving the current situation.
Earlier, the Supreme Court termed the performance of the Punjab government as the ‘worst’ and summoned record of different cases, including alleged corruption in 56 companies, non-availability of clean water and bad condition of hospitals in the province.
The chief justice in the past has expressed his displeasure at the state of hospitals in Sindh and Punjab.
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