SHC seeks report from DSJs of Tharparkar, Umerkot on effectiveness of relief activities
The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday directed the district and sessions judges of Tharparkar and Umerkot to submit their report on enquiry into the effectiveness of the relief activities being carried out by the federal and provincial government in the famine-hit areas by November 25.
A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar had taken up a miscellaneous application filed by Pakistan Institute of Labour and Education Research (PILER) and other NGOs through which it sought action against the authorities over their failure to provide relief and health facilities to the people of famine-hit Tharparkar.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui representing the NGOs had submitted that recent media reports had indicated that the drought-like situation has recurred in Tharparkar district where provincial and federal governments have totally neglected to undertake measures to redeem people from starvation and death.
Therefore, he requested the court to issue directives for the district judges concerned in Tharparkar and Umerkot to examine the ongoing relief work there and also gather information about recent deaths by the famine.
While granting the applicants’ request, the court had directed district and sessions judges of Tharparkar and Umerkot to carry out an enquiry either personally or through their subordinate judicial officers within their jurisdiction and submit a report within three weeks. The court required them to gather data about recent deaths and the number of people affected by drought-like situation in Tharparkar and also the supply and the requirement of food and health facilities.
