The Sindh High Court has directed the provincial government to establish a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the alarming spread of HIV among children treated at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, mandates the committee be headed by the chief secretary and submit its findings within two months.
Court Demands Independent Investigation
A two-member bench comprising Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza issued the directives during a hearing into the matter. The court specifically ordered that the inquiry committee include two Grade-20 officers who have no administrative links with the hospital or the ongoing investigation, ensuring impartiality in the probe.
The inquiry will focus on determining whether disposable syringes or other medical equipment were reused at the facility, a practice that could explain the transmission of the virus among young patients. The committee has been granted access to hospital records, investigation reports, and CCTV footage to establish the facts.
Scope of the Investigation
The committee’s mandate extends beyond immediate medical practices. It will review records concerning the purchase, storage, and use of auto-lock syringes at the hospital. Officials will also determine the responsibilities of medical, nursing, technical, and administrative staff in the outbreak.
Additionally, the inquiry will examine whether relevant laws, including the Disposable Syringes Act, were violated. If negligence or wrongdoing is established, the committee is empowered to recommend departmental or criminal action against those responsible.
ection and Care for Affected Children
The court directed the Sindh government to ensure uninterrupted medical treatment for all affected children. The government or the relevant social security institution must bear cost of medicines, tests, and other necessary medical care. Authorities were also ordered to provide compensation or other legal relief to affected children and their families.
The SHC stressed that the children’s identities and medical information must be protected, and that they should not face discrimination in any form. The chief secretary and health secretary were directed to ensure strict implementation of the Disposable Syringes Act and other relevant laws.
Contempt Proceedings Against Lawyer
During the hearing, the court took notice of the conduct of petitioner’s lawyer Tariq Mansoor, alleging that he incited people accompanying him and allowed videos to be recorded inside the courtroom, disrupting proceedings. The court observed that the conduct appeared prima facie to constitute contempt of court and issued a show-cause notice to the lawyer.
Mansoor has been directed to submit a written response and appear personally in the contempt proceedings. The SHC also instructed the Sindh High Court Bar and Sindh Bar Council to take appropriate legal action regarding his conduct.
The case underscores growing concerns about healthcare safety standards in Pakistan’s public hospitals and the urgent need for accountability in medical negligence cases involving vulnerable populations.
