The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the administration of Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital to immediately commence the treatment of HIV-AIDS patients, including members from the transgender community.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed and Justice Muhammad Abdul Rahman, announced the order on Wednesday while hearing a petition regarding the lack of treatment for transgender HIV-AIDs patients at the Civil Hospital. Transgender rights campaigners and Harish Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Civil Hospital, appeared before the bench. Kumar stated that his hospital was willing to treat trans HIV-AIDS patients and that a focal person has been appointed for this purpose.
"There may have been some misunderstandings among the transgender community because our hospital does offer treatment facilities for them," he further submitted before the bench. Justice Saeed enquired about the protocols followed in HIV-AIDS cases. To this, Dr Kumar said that there were established treatment protocols that the hospital also follows.
The judges emphasised that transgender patients should contact the focal person on the same day to initiate the treatment process. The focal person must ensure that there is no discrimination against trans patients, the judges added. The bench also ordered the Civil Hospital administration to start treating transgender patients from Wednesday in accordance with the established protocols.
Furthermore, the bench summoned a compliance report from the Sindh health secretary after the summer break. The petition was filed by trans rights activists Shehzadi Rai and Hina Baloch through Sara Malkani Advocate, highlighting the urgent need for treatment of three community members, namely Monica, Nakwari, and Mai Jan, who have been suffering from HIV-AIDS.
The petition states that the Civil Hospital administration has been refusing treatment to HIV-AIDS patients, including transgender individuals, thereby denying them the care they urgently require.
SHC orders release of 28 detained persons
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the release of 28 persons from jails on petitions against the detention of PTI workers and others.
A bench comprising Justice Yousaf Ali Saeed and Justice Mohammad Abdul Rehman heard the petitions and remarked, if there is no other case against the detained persons, they should be released. The detained civilians were kept in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and other jails in the province. Their families had filed petitions against the detention.
The same bench of SHC also heard petition related to persons detained under the MPO in Sindh jails. The home department withdrew the notification of detention of five persons and submitted report to the court. It has been stated in the report that Rajab Langah, Ghazi Langah, Majeed Langah, Ayaz Langah and Ramzan Langah have been released from jails. All the five citizens were detained in different jails in Sindh. After withdrawing the detention notification, the court disposed of the petitions. The citizens’ detention was challenged in the court by the families.
IG, DG Rangers issued notices
The Sindh High Court has issued notices to IG Sindh and DG Rangers on the plea pertaining to the search for four missing persons. The lawyer of petitioners stated before the bench of Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Justice Arbab Ali Hakro that Rangers personnel took Sana Ullah from his house in Frontier Colony on May 31.
Qasim Soomro has been missing from the Qasim port area since May 19. The Rangers took Sikandar Ali Memon into custody on June 1 from Murid Goth, Malir. Fazlun Nabi was picked up from the Mehran City Welfare Association office in a police mobile without a number plate.
The court is requested to give orders for the search of the missing people. The court sent notices to the IG Sindh, DG Rangers, and other parties, and sought their response by June 20.
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