Islamabad (December 12, 2018): Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar and other judges have arrived in the drought-hit region of Thar.
Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arab of Supreme Court, the Chief Justice Sindh High Court and Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah are accompanying the chief justice.
The honourable judges will inspect the steps taken by the Government of Sindh to prevent deaths of children in the desert region due to malnourishment and the diseases caused by the menace.
The authorities have become active in the area to present a rosy image of the impoverished desert facing negligence of the government on the local as well as at the provincial level.
According to reports, the building of Civil Hospital Mithi has been renovated. The compound wall of the hospital premises and the interior have been painted.
A special team of doctors has been constituted to reply to the probable questions of the chief justice, sources said.
Earlier on December 07 (Friday), CJP announced while hearing a case that he would visit Thar and directed the Sindh government to make the arrangements.
A bench headed by Justice Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard a Suo Motu notice over child deaths due to malnutrition in Thar.
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As the hearing went underway, the chief justice said, “I am going to Thar on December 12. The Sindh government should make arrangements.”
“Newborn children are dying in Thar and there are also issues pertaining to the supply and distribution of water over there. I don’t want to tour only the good areas but also ones where poverty and issues are prevalent,” the top judge remarked.
The Sindh advocate general then informed that during the last hearing the court had sought a report from the sessions judge. “Food has been distributed to those affected,” the Sindh advocate general further said.
At this, the chief justice said, “I will see this matter myself when I go there on December 12. It will be better to hear the case then.”
In response, the Sindh advocate general said, “By the time you visit, conditions will have improved.”
Justice Ahsan then asked, “Are doctors being given additional salary?” The Sindh advocate general responded, “Grade 1-11 employees are being given additional Rs10,000, Grade 12-16 are being given additional Rs17,000, Grade 17 are being granted Rs90,000 and Grade 18 onwards are being given an additional Rs140,000.”
Further during the hearing, MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said, “The prime minister’s housing scheme should be brought to Thar.”
“There are no doctors in Mithi for mothers or children and there is also a need for vets in Thar,” Vankwani asserted.
At this, the chief justice said, “After looking at the situation myself, I will hear this matter.”
The court then asked court adviser Faisal Siddiqui to give comments on the Sindh government’s appeal. Following this, Siddiqui said, “An effective system for accountability and overview is needed in Thar and thus a judicial commission should be formed.”
Siddiqui continued, “There is a big issue of bank loans in Thar and people are committing suicide over failure to pay-off debt.”
At this, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) representative said, “We are rescheduling the loans given to farmers.”
The chief justice stated, “I am going to Karachi from December 11 to 12, we will make a commission under the chairmanship of a retired SC judge.”
The court then adjourned the hearing of the case.
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