• Sindh chief secretary to head probe committee, rules court.
• Court says matter concerns public health and human life.
• SHC orders relief for the affected children and families.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the provincial government to constitute an inquiry committee headed by the chief secretary to investigate the HIV outbreak at the Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi.

A two-member SHC bench, headed by Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and comprising Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza, issued the directives.

The development comes months after Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani confirmed that six of the at least 78 children infected with HIV at the Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital had died.

During the hearing today, the court directed that the committee include two Grade-20 officers who have no direct administrative connection with the hospital or the investigation.

SHC judge Justice Adnan observed that the matter concerned responsibilities relating to human life and public health.

The committee will review details of patients receiving treatment and examine evidence relating to the transmission of HIV. It will also investigate whether disposable syringes or other medical equipment were reused at the hospital.

The committee has been directed to examine records relating to the purchase, storage and use of auto-lock syringes at the hospital.

As per the court order, the committee will also determine the roles and responsibilities of medical, nursing, technical and administrative officials and examine whether the Disposable Syringes Act or other relevant laws were violated.

The committee will have access to records, reports and CCTV footage and has been directed to submit its inquiry report to the court within two months.

The court said that if the evidence establishes responsibility, the committee should recommend departmental or criminal action against those concerned.

The court also directed the Sindh chief secretary to ensure uninterrupted and appropriate medical treatment for all affected children. It ordered that the government of Sindh or the social security institution bear all medical expenses, including medicines and tests, for the affected children.

The court further directed that compensation or other relief for the affected children and their families be determined in accordance with the law.

It ordered that affected children and their families should not face discrimination and that the identities and medical information of the children be protected in accordance with the law.

The chief secretary and health secretary were also directed to ensure enforcement of the Disposable Syringes Act and other relevant laws.

During the proceedings, the court also took notice of the conduct of the petitioner’s lawyer, Tariq Mansoor, observing that he incited people accompanying him in the courtroom and allowed videos to be recorded, disrupting the proceedings.

The court said judges had to move to their chambers to complete the proceedings and observed that the conduct appeared prima facie to amount to contempt of court.

A show-cause notice was issued to the lawyer, who was directed to submit a written response in the contempt proceedings and ensure his personal appearance.

The court also directed the Sindh High Court Bar and Sindh Bar Council (SBC) to take appropriate legal action over the lawyer’s conduct.