Free medicine: LHC forms Judicial commission to probe PIC deaths

LHC tasks Justice Ijazul Hasan to probe deaths after Punjab government requests formation of commission.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday formed a one member commission to probe deaths caused by reaction to free medicines distributed by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

The commission has been formed on a request from the Punjab government. Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Sh Azmat Saeed on Monday formed a one-member judicial commission under Justice Ijazul Hasan to probe he deaths.

The commission has been charged to ascertain the cause of the deaths and fix responsibilities. It will also give its recommendations for averting such incidents in future.

Last week, a petition had been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission to probe the deaths. The LHC had been hearing that petition and had directed all respondents to file their reply, when the request from the Punjab government was honoured.

(Read: Free medicine: LHC orders respondents to file reply by January 30)

The Supreme Court also took suo motu notice of the issue on Monday, and will hear the case on January 31, 2012.