Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took suo motu notice of children's death in Tharparkar District of Sindh due to acute malnutrition and fixed the hearing of the case on March 10 (Monday). According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court here on Friday, the notice was taken on news reports as well as reports telecast by TV channels.
Residents of the Tharparkar Region faced starvation and as a result around one hundred children died due to malnutrition and diseases. Taking the cognisance of the issue, the Chief Justice of Pakistan passed the order that it is the serious violation of Article 9 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Chief Justice directed Sindh government, Chief Secretary and the concerned authorities to submit report about the issue.
The case has been fixed for hearing on March 10 (Monday) before the Bench No 1 at Islamabad. The chief Justice also directed that officer of the Government of Sindh not below the rank of Additional Secretary should appear along with report in the Court on behalf of Chief Secretary Government of Sindh. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took serious notice of children's death of hunger in Thar, while the provincial government of Sindh also swung into action to rush supplies to the draught-hit district of the province. The Prime Minister directed National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to immediately get in touch with authorities in Sindh and provide all possible aid and assistance to the affected people.
On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday announced to distribute 1,20,000 bags of wheat among the drought-hit population of Tharparkar district and providing medicine worth 10 million rupees, besides giving compensation of Rs 2,00,000 for each child died of this drought-like situation. He also issued orders for suspension and arrest of Director Health, District Tharparkar and Medical Superintendent (MS) Mithi Hospital for criminal negligence of duties. According to official data, he said, 41 children have died in the area.
The Chief Minister was briefing the media on drought-like situation in Tharparkar and on relief operations, here at Chief Minister's House. Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Pakistan People's Party (Sindh) Secretary General, Taj Haider and some other PPP parliamentarians were also present.
Shah informed the media that 60,000 bags of wheat were available in godowns, which were being sold to the people of Thar at fifty percent discount and the equal number of wheat bags were being added to the stock. Now, he added, these bags would be distributed among the affected people of Thar. He said that a three member committee is being constituted to monitor implementation of the relief package for Thar. The committee will comprise a member of Sindh Assembly, an Assistant Commissioner and a local journalist, he said. He said medicine amounting to Rs 10 million is being immediately dispatched to the area, if needed, more medicine will be procured.
He said the required medical equipment would be provided to the Mithi and other local hospitals to ensure proper analysis of the patients. He said that a team of senior doctors from Karachi was leaving for Tharparkar to help in treatment of the patients especially children. The SHC while taking notice of the drought-like situation prevailing in Thar district directed chief secretary and secretaries of food, agriculture and livestock departments to submit their detailed comments and report in this regard.
SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar converted into constitutional petition the application of Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHBA), seeking punitive and exemplary action against the provincial authorities for depriving the citizens of Thar of their fundamental right to food and water. The Chief Justice asked provincial government to explain the criteria and mechanism of supply of wheat and other food items in drought-hit areas including Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, and Nangarparkar. He also directed Chief Secretary and food secretary to inform the court about emergent measures taken by them to mitigate the situation created due to drought and government negligence.
Chief Justice instructed them to spell out measures taken to prevent out-burst of epidemics among humans and livestock. The chief justice also issued notice to National Disaster Management Authority to submit report as what measures has taken to alleviate miseries arisen out of drought. SHCBA General Secretary Asim Iqbal submitted an application to SHC Chief Justice, stating that situation of Thar was grim as media reported that hundreds of children have died of drought in the region. He said that government had completely failed in taking care of basic needs of citizens and their fundamental right.
He said that Bar had received letter from its members who requested SHC Chief Justice to take notice of tragic situation and order punitive action against government functionaries responsible for the drought-caused miseries in Thar. The matter will be taken up on March 14.