The Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notice to chief secretary Sindh and health secretary for disobeying its order that directed them to launch public awareness campaign about adverse effect of measles, rubella and other diseases and precautionary measures against them.
A division bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar was hearing a contempt of court application filed by an NGO against Sindh chief secretary and health secretary for allegedly violating court’s earlier order.
Counsel for applicant submitted that earlier on May 22, the bench had directed authorities to launch a public awareness campaign about adverse effect of measles, rubella and other diseases and precautionary measures against them but despite passage of several months, no campaign was launched in this regard.
He said the authorities have failed to comply with the court’s order, therefore, he requested the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against them.
Earlier, SHC Chief Justice had taken notice of reported deaths of 48 children, caused by rubella virus in parts of Thatta and Sajawal districts when advocate Zulifkar Ali Langah brought such matter into his knowledge.
Zulifqar addressed a letter to SHC Chief Justice requesting him to take notice of outbreak of rubella virus due to lack of vaccination for prevention of the disease in the government hospitals.