Dengue Control: LHC seeks report on preventive measures

LHC directs government to submit updated report on dengue, reprimands petitioner for trying to spread panic.

LAHORE: Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government and the city government to brief the court on March 12 about the steps they have taken to prevent the outbreak of dengue.

Justice Saeed reprimanded the lawyer representing the government as he had presented last year’s report to the court on the steps taken to control dengue. The chief justice sought an updated report.

He also reprimanded the petitioner’s counsel Noshab A Khan, asking him why he was spreading panic by filing such petitions and exaggerating the problem.

The petitioner had submitted that 82 dengue cases had already broken out this season because of the government’s failure to take precautionary measures. He said there would likely be many deaths due to the disease this year as the government had made insufficient arrangements to stop it. He asked that the government be directed to inform the court of the steps taken to control dengue.