Lahore braces for heavy rain as WASA remains on high alert

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the provincial government to establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the reported spread of HIV among children treated at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and comprising Justice Muhammad Jaffer Raza, issued the directions while announcing its reserved judgment on a petition seeking an impartial investigation, medical treatment and compensation for affected children. The court noted that the departmental inquiries and reports submitted so far were not sufficient to establish the actual number of affected patients, determine how the virus was transmitted or assess whether proper infection-control procedures were followed. According to figures presented by the Sindh government, 78 children were identified as HIV-positive at the hospital, while screening in the surrounding area detected another 120 cases. However, the petitioner claimed that the number of infected children could be around 200. The court ordered the Sindh chief secretary to head the inquiry committee and include two senior government officers of at least BS-20 rank. The officers should preferably have no direct administrative connection with the hospital or the investigations already conducted. The committee has been directed to establish the exact number and identities of HIV-positive children and other patients who were treated at the hospital during the relevant period. It will also investigate the possible source and method of HIV transmission on the basis of medical and scientific evidence. The committee will examine whether disposable syringes or other medical equipment were reused, improperly discarded or inadequately sterilised in violation of medical standards and applicable laws. It will also review the hospital’s infection-prevention arrangements, including the procurement, storage and use of auto-lock, auto-destruct and auto-break syringes. The roles of doctors, nurses, technical staff, administrative officials and supervisors will also come under scrutiny. The committee will determine whether any official failed to fulfil a legal, administrative or supervisory responsibility. The inquiry will further assess ongoing departmental proceedings against 37 officials and determine whether those proceedings adequately address individual responsibility. Officials will also examine whether the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010, or any other relevant law was violated and identify those responsible if evidence establishes wrongdoing. The committee has been authorised to examine medical and laboratory reports, screening records, procurement and stock registers, syringe records, duty rosters, infection-control reports, inspection documents, departmental inquiry material and relevant CCTV footage. The inquiry must provide an opportunity for a fair hearing to anyone against whom adverse findings are proposed. The committee has been directed to submit its report to the competent authority and the high court within two months of its formation. The court also directed the Sindh chief secretary to ensure that all affected HIV-positive children and other identified patients receive uninterrupted medical care while the inquiry continues. The treatment must include medicines, diagnostic tests, counselling and follow-up care and must be provided completely free of cost. The government and SESSI will bear all expenses, and no costs are to be recovered from affected children or their families. Treatment should continue for as long as medically necessary. Given the vulnerability of the children, the court also ordered authorities to determine whether affected families are entitled to compensation, financial assistance or other relief under the relevant laws and government policies. The court stressed that no affected child or family should face discrimination, stigma or denial of lawful assistance because of HIV status. It further ordered authorities to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the children’s identities and medical records. The Sindh chief secretary and health department secretary were directed to take immediate corrective and preventive measures at the hospital to prevent further avoidable risks to patients. Authorities were also ordered to ensure strict compliance with infection-control procedures and the law governing disposable syringes. The court said the case involved fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, dignity and fair treatment. It observed that the matter could not be treated merely as an administrative issue because the state has a constitutional responsibility to protect life and ensure proper public health and medical safety. At the same time, the court cautioned that allegations or departmental proceedings alone cannot establish the guilt of individual officials. Responsibility must be determined through evidence and after providing the concerned persons an opportunity to defend themselves. The court also took notice of an incident involving the petitioner, Advocate Tariq Mansoor, during proceedings. According to the order, Mansoor allegedly raised his voice and encouraged people accompanying him, while some individuals reportedly recorded videos inside the courtroom. The court said the incident disrupted proceedings and affected the dignity and decorum of the courtroom. It also noted that the situation was serious enough for the bench to retire to chambers before completing the order. The court issued a show-cause notice to Mansoor, asking why contempt and criminal proceedings should not be initiated against him. Court security officials were also directed to explain an alleged security lapse that allowed a group of people to enter the courtroom and disrupt proceedings. The Sindh High Court Bar Association and Sindh Bar Council were asked to intervene and take appropriate measures regarding the alleged misconduct.

Pakistan is expected to receive another widespread spell of monsoon rains from July 29 to August 5, with the weather system likely to affect several parts of the country. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of heavy and very heavy rainfall in several areas. It has also cautioned about urban flooding, flash floods and landslides. According to the weather advisory, moist monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are expected to enter the upper and central parts of the country from July 29. A westerly weather system affecting northern areas is also likely to strengthen from August 1. It may bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to upper and central regions. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and the Galliyat are expected to receive rain and thunderstorms from July 29 to August 4. Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot and nearby areas may also experience heavy rainfall. Several districts of central and southern Punjab are also likely to receive rain. These include Lahore, Narowal, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha and Sahiwal. Southern Punjab may see rainfall between July 31 and August 3. Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are among the areas expected to be affected. Sindh is likely to receive rain from July 31 to August 2. Karachi, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar and several other districts may experience thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall. Other parts of Sindh, including Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Thatta, are also expected to receive rain. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is likely to face widespread rain and thunderstorms from July 29 to August 5. Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and several other districts may receive heavy or very heavy rain. Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai and Waziristan are also expected to experience rainfall during the forecast period. Balochistan is likely to receive rain and thunderstorms from July 31 to August 3. Zhob, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar and several surrounding areas may be affected. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are also expected to receive rain and thunderstorms. Kashmir may experience rainfall from the night of July 28 to August 5, while parts of Gilgit-Baltistan may remain affected until August 6. The PMD has issued a specific warning about urban flooding. Low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad could face flooding between July 30 and August 4. Several cities and districts in Sindh may also face urban flooding from July 31 to August 2. These include Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot. The weather department has also warned of landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas. Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir could be affected. Heavy rainfall may also cause flash floods in streams and nullahs. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and parts of northeastern Balochistan could also experience sudden flooding. Strong winds and lightning may damage weak structures during the spell. Solar panels, electricity poles, billboards and other vulnerable installations could be affected. The PMD has advised tourists and travellers to exercise caution during the rainy period. People travelling through mountainous areas have been urged to remain alert. Farmers have also been advised to plan agricultural activities according to weather conditions. They have been asked to take precautionary measures to protect crops and livestock.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has told the Federal Constitutional Court that no “PTI founder release force” was ever established, describing the initiative instead as a peaceful movement for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Afridi submitted an eight-page response in the case through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general. The response was filed after the Federal Constitutional Court sought his position on a petition challenging the alleged formation of the so-called release force. In his response, the chief minister said the actual initiative was the Release Peace Movement, which he described as peaceful, unarmed and voluntary. He maintained that the movement had no armed structure or military component. Afridi further argued that the constitutional petition was politically motivated and based on misrepresentation of facts. He said the petition was premature, hypothetical and therefore not maintainable. According to the chief minister, the petitioner had also failed to establish any violation of fundamental rights. Afridi said the Release Peace Movement was protected under Articles 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution. These provisions relate to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech and expression. He also argued that Article 256 of the Constitution, which concerns private military organisations, had no relevance to the movement. The KP chief minister maintained that the Private Military Organisations Act, 1973 was also not applicable to the Release Peace Movement. He rejected allegations that the initiative posed a threat to public order. He described such claims as baseless and said comparisons between the movement and armed organisations of the past were misleading. Afridi asked the court to dismiss the constitutional petition at the preliminary stage. He also requested the court to declare the Release Peace Movement constitutional and lawful. The case comes amid political controversy over claims that the KP government or PTI supporters were preparing an organisation to campaign for Imran Khan’s release. Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously criticised the KP government over the issue, alleging that it could establish a release force for the PTI founder while remaining silent against militants. The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled the next hearing of the petition for July 29.