Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan, while expressing dissatisfaction over Sindh government’s report on drought in Tharparkar and deaths of children, has rejected it and sought detailed report from the Sindh chief secretary within 48 hours.
A three-member bench of the SCP presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took up for hearing Thar drought and deaths of children case Monday.
The CJP remarked, “The government kept on sleeping and people kept on dying due to drought. Thar incident is grave negligence of the Sindh civil administration. We cannot pardon anyone. Why did no one note when the international organisations cautioned that steps should be taken with regards to this.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed remarked, “The people of Thar were left stranded. Earlier, it was said people had died due to epidemics and now it is being disclosed that deaths have occurred due to drought. Why were steps not taken earlier? Why was disaster awaited for the sake of relief?”
Sindh health secretary Iqbal Durrani, while presenting the report told the court that 127 persons, including 99 children, had died between December 2013 and March 2014 in district hospital Mithi due to epidemics and drought. Some 259,000 families have been affected and 73,000 bags of food have been provided to them, the report said, adding that the Sindh government has also announced compensation amounting to Rs 200,000 per each child victim. Lists were being worked out in this regard. Also, 66 tonnes of flour, 11 tonnes of pulses, 80 tonnes sugar, 80 tonnes fodders and 12 trucks of safe drinking bottled water has been provided. Problems have been created due to the deteriorated situation in Karachi.
Justice Azmat remarked that no attempt should be made to divert the attention of the court from this incident by narrating the stories of Karachi. The justice said governments’ will stop performing as soon as the court closes the file of the case.
The court, while rejecting the report, ordered that the Sindh government file a detailed report within two days again.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till March 20.
