SHC orders govt to release funds for children’s hospital

The Sindh High Court directed the provincial government on Monday to issue funds for the Sindh Government Children's Hospital within a week.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar was hearing a plea pertaining to the non-provision of funds to the hospital since 2018.

The petitioner's counsel contended that the summary for the provision of funds had been signed but the funds have not been issued as yet.

At this, the assistant advocate-general argued that the summary was only approved on November 10, asking how funds could have been issued in six days.

The petitioner's counsel, however, stated the Sindh government had to issue Rs2.3 billion but had only approved the summary for Rs200 million, adding that a staff of nearly 300 employees was owed salaries of seven months.

"The main concern is provision of medical facilities for children," remarked Justice Mazhar. "Services at the hospital should resume after which all other matters will be considered."

The hospital is the largest children's health facility in Karachi and has been functioning through public-private partnership, maintained the petitioner's counsel.

Observing that the summary for the provision of funds was signed by the Sindh chief secretary in accordance with judicial orders, Justice Mazhar directed the provincial government to issue funds for the hospital within a week.

The court sought a progress report from the Sindh Health Department by November 26.

Baldia factory fire

Meanwhile, five victims of the Baldia factory fire approached SHC to become party in the appeal filed by the two convicts in the case, Zubair Charya and Rehman alias Bhola.

The two Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers have appealed against the death sentences handed to them, assigning blame to others who were exonerated in the case.

Saeeda Hasna Khatun, Syeda Khatun, Abdul Aziz Khan, Muhammad Ishaq and Muhammad Jamil approached the high court to become a party in the appeal.

Inquiry twice over

Another bench comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi directed the National Accountability Bureau's Sukkur office to complete the inquiry against former Sindh law minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar.

The bench was hearing the accused's bail pleas in the assets beyond means case and extended their interim bail until the next hearing.

The NAB Sukkur prosecutor sought an extension to complete the inquiry, explaining that the NAB headquarters had posed objections to their report after the inquiry's completion. He contended that the inquiry was being carried out again and more time was needed.

The court extended the accused's interim bail until the next hearing and directed NAB Sukkur to complete the inquiry soon. Besides, it sought a progress report from the anti-graft watchdog by December 24.

Absent lawyer

A bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh expressed annoyance at the absence of defence lawyer Farooq H Naek and issued him a final last warning to appear in court.

The bench was hearing the bail pleas of former Sindh IGP Ghulam Haider Jamali and others accused of corruption in Sindh Police funds.

Naek's assistant told the court Naek was busy in Islamabad and could not attend the hearing.

"The accused have been enjoying their release on bail for a long time," remarked CJ Shaikh, warning that their counsels should appear before the court and give arguments or the bail would be nullified.

The court granted a two-day extension to Naek, directing the accused and the defence counsels to give arguments at the next hearing on November 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2020.