Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Friday, restored the notification of the Punjab chief minister (CM) issued on September 5 for a detailed inquiry into the purchase of substandard dengue medicines, insecticides and sprays and directed Additional Inspector General (IG) Aftab Sultan to conduct a complete inquiry of the deaths of over 300 people due to dengue in the province.
The CJ said it seemed that bureaucracy misled the Punjab CM in the fight against dengue, and made appropriate steps that were doubtful in people’s eyes.
Punjab secretary health admitted in the court that the Punjab Chief secretary, in a meeting with the CM, held at 7-Club Road had advised to curtail the scope and powers of the inquiry committee probing into the quality of imported dengue medicines, insecticides and sprays and other causes of hundreds of deaths in the epidemic.
However, the powers of the committee were curtailed by canceling the notification issued on September 5 and due to the issuance of a new notification on Sep 19 for limited inquiry, he added.
On the last hearing, Aftab Sultan had informed the court that he could not do a detailed inquiry of the new notification which had reduced the scope of inquiry. However, DCO Lahore Ahad Cheema who was also present in the court said the city district government along with the health department was already trying to control the dengue epidemic so there was no need of any inquiry. Petitioner’s counsel, Azhar Siddique, requested the court to establish a judicial commission for a fair inquiry to determine whether the government’s negligence had caused of the deaths. The chief justice held that powers of the inquiry committee were curtailed due to malafide intentions. Azhar prayed that the court direct medical colleges to provide free to treatment to 50 percent of patients. The CJ sought reply from the federal government until October 24.
Deaths due to dengue to be probed by govt
