The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday rebuked Punjab Health Director General Dr Tanvir for not submitting an enquiry report prepared by a three-member committee headed by Sheikh Zayed Hospital Principal Dr Zafar Iqbal into alleged failure of the government in controlling the recent outbreak of measles. When the hearing resumed, the law officers of the provincial government and the Health Department along with the Health DG appeared before the court. The DG told the court that a report prepared by Professor Faisal Masood had been submitted to the chief minister. Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan admonished the DG and asked about the report prepared by Dr Zafar Iqbal. The court also questioned why both the enquiry reports were not being brought before the court. The court directed the director general and provincial law officer to submit the both reports till October 9. The court was hearing a petition demanding action against responsible officers of Health Department and others in their alleged failure to control measles outbreak. In the petition, the petitioner had submitted that the children in the provincial hospitals had died due to the diseases and the government had failed to control the outbreak. He submitted the government was also unable to discharge it responsibilities as per Articles 9, 14, 15, 15, 17, 18, 25, 37 and 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The petitioner said the government authorities had not taken protective measures to control the outbreak as the vaccine of measles was also not available in the province. He said the government had launched anti-measles campaign three years back but later scrapped it. The petitioner stated that federal and provincial governments miserably failed in controlling the outbreak (measles) which resulted into loss of innocent lives. The petitioner requested that a judicial enquiry should be ordered to determine the responsibility of the government’s authorities.
