CJP expresses concern over healthcare facilities at JPMC

• Forbids action against footpath school until alternate space provided
• Directs formation of a regulatory body to improve the state of affairs at PIA

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday expressed displeasure over the abysmal state of cleanliness at the Jinnah Postgraduate and Medical Centre (JPMC), while hearing a case pertaining to the state of public hospitals in Sindh at its Karachi Registry.

Calling the performance of JPMC “unsatisfactory”, the CJP directed the concerned personnel to prepare a performa within three days.

The court also summoned files of Jinnah Hospital.

During the course of the hearing, the CJP announced that he would be visiting the hospital in order to observe the healthcare facilities there. The CJP asked Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho to explain as to when the healthcare facilities at government hospitals would get better.

He also asked the health secretary to swear an affidavit that the JPMC and other hospitals were well-equipped with all the necessary healthcare facilities.

Later in the day, Chief Justice Nisar, accompanied by top health officials, also paid a visit to Jinnah Hospital, where he reviewed the hospital infrastructure.

CJP FORBIDS ACTION AGAINST FOOTPATH SCHOOL:

Meanwhile, Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday forbade action against a footpath school in Clifton area until space is provided for its relocation, while hearing the suo motu notice on the Sindh government’s alleged move to shut the school down.

During the hearing, the CJP observed that the Sindh Education Department should not nag the concerned administration for the closure of the school. Instead, he stated, the school should be provided with all the necessary facilities.

The school in question, situated under Bahria Icon Tower flyover in Clifton area of Karachi, reportedly received threats for closure by the Sindh government.

In January this year, Syeda Anfas Ali Shah Zaidi, who has been running the footpath school for three years, said the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) Managing Director Naheed Durrani asked them to close down the school at the earliest.

MISSING LUGGAGE AT AIRPORTS:

Hearing a case on passengers’ luggage going missing at airports, the chief justice observed that the luggage of passengers arriving via international Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights goes missing.

He directed to form a regulatory body to improve the state of affairs at the airline, adding that the Director General Human Rights should be made part of the body.

CJP VOWS PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS:

As the hearing went underway, the CJP hit out at criticism levelled at him for frequently taking suo motu notices and said he will fight for protection and provision of fundamental rights of people.

The chief justice observed that the children of those who were required to do something for the welfare of the country were studying abroad.

He said it was the duty of the government to ensure the provision of fundamental rights. The government is bound to provide healthcare, and educational facilities, he added.

CJP Nisar vowed to protect the fundamental rights of people. “To ensure implementation of fundamental rights in letter and spirit is my dream,” he said and added he didn’t know when this dream would come true.

He said he got the streets cleared in Punjab, which were closed in the name of security. Blocking streets is a violation of the fundamental right of citizens, he explained.

“I am a fighter. I will surely fight,” the CJP declared and clarified that he was not fond of taking suo motu notices.

He said he kept quiet for a year, but when he saw there was no one to care about the suffering of people, then he began to take notices.

The chief justice asked senior lawyers to file petitions raising issues related to violation of fundamental rights.