Security forces kill militants in Lakki Marwat ope…

Islamabad / Karachi: The Sindh Healthcare Commission came under intense scrutiny in the Senate after lawmakers questioned its ability to control illegal medical practices and respond effectively to the growing HIV situation in Sindh. Senators raised concerns over delayed action, staff shortages, and legal weaknesses that they said were limiting the Commission’s performance. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti. The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt, Senator Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan through Zoom, Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani along with senior federal and provincial health officials. Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt questioned why FIRs had still not been registered against those responsible in connection with the HIV situation, while Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan expressed dissatisfaction over delays in action and questioned the role of the Sindh Healthcare Commission in preventing the spread of the disease. Responding to the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sindh Healthcare Commission said the Commission had already registered several FIRs against medical quacks. However, he stated that weaknesses in the existing legal framework allowed many accused to obtain bail shortly after arrest. He informed the Committee that amendments to the law were being prepared to strengthen action against quackery. The CEO also disclosed that the Commission has only around 170 officials serving across the entire province, highlighting a serious shortage of human resources. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri questioned why the Commission remained understaffed and asked whether the issue had been formally raised with the Sindh Government. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal requested the Committee Chairman to issue directions so the matter could move forward. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan stressed that the Government should acknowledge administrative shortcomings wherever they exist. He also asked how many times the Sindh Healthcare Commission had formally requested additional staff from the Provincial Government. The discussion also focused on the governance structure of the Commission. Members were informed that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Sindh Health Department no longer exercises administrative control over the Sindh Healthcare Commission. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal suggested that legislative measures should be considered to address governance-related issues affecting provincial institutions. The Committee also examined the appointment process for members of the Sindh Healthcare Commission Board. The Secretary Health informed members that the Department did not have the authority to appoint or remove Board members. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri observed that such limitations weaken accountability, while Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt expressed concern that the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission was not administratively answerable to the Secretary Health. Earlier in the meeting, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani informed the Committee that two inquiries had been conducted into the Valika Hospital incident, during which 37 officials were identified for disciplinary action. He said the inquiry findings had not been made public due to security considerations but assured the Committee that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. He also informed members that the Sindh Government had established a social security fund to support families affected by HIV.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Sialkot urgently needed a medical city. He said the project would help improve healthcare facilities for people in the city and nearby areas. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Sialkot Medical City, Khawaja Asif praised the business community for supporting the project. He also appreciated the role of the Sialkot Chamber in making the initiative possible. The minister said Sialkot had been facing a major healthcare gap. He said patients often had to travel to Lahore when serious medical emergencies occurred in the city. According to Khawaja Asif, the new medical city will help reduce the need for patients to travel to Lahore. It will also provide better healthcare services closer to the people of Sialkot. He said the project was an important development for the city. He hoped that the medical facilities would further improve the quality of healthcare available to local residents. Khawaja Asif also spoke about major road projects in the region. He said another lane would be added to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. He said the Kharian Motorway would be completed before the other project. He added that better road links would further improve connectivity between Sialkot and other parts of Punjab. The defence minister recalled that he had received a positive response when the motorway proposal was presented. He said major road networks had connected several cities and towns with each other. He said the route from Shahdara to Rawat had created stronger links between different urban centres. Such projects, he added, were important for trade, travel and economic activity. Khawaja Asif also highlighted the growing importance of Sialkot International Airport. He said the airport was no longer serving only the people of Sialkot. He said people from Jhelum and Gujrat were also using the airport. Residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also travelling through the facility, he added. The minister credited Sialkot’s business community for many of the city’s major development projects. He said local traders and industrialists had made significant contributions to the city’s growth. Khawaja Asif said the Sialkot business community had established high standards. He added that these standards were recognised internationally. He said the success of Sialkot showed what could be achieved through cooperation between the business community and public institutions. He stressed that continued development could further strengthen the city’s position as an important economic and industrial centre.

The father of young Karachi businessman Mir Raza has raised serious questions over the investigation into his son’s murder. He alleged that the case was being influenced. He claimed that signs of interference by the Sindh government were visible in the investigation. Lawyers protested at the City Court on Tuesday over the failure to arrest the suspects in the case. Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, also spoke during the protest. He questioned the removal of Dr Usama from the case. According to Mir Hussain, Dr Usama was removed so that he would not be able to answer questions about the matter. He also questioned the preparation of the post-mortem report. He asked why the report was allegedly prepared on the basis of photographs. Mir Hussain questioned whether any pressure was involved in the preparation of the report. He demanded that the circumstances surrounding the post-mortem be properly examined. The victim’s father further criticised the police investigation. He said the police’s alleged incompetence in his son’s case was now evident. The protest was held as the suspects in the murder case remained at large. The lawyers demanded progress in the investigation and the arrest of those responsible. Mir Hussain called for transparency in the investigation. He said the family wanted answers regarding every aspect of the case.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Palwasha Khan has criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the recent political developments in Kashmir. Khan said those who had won what she called a “fixed match” in Kashmir should not lecture others about the public mandate. In a statement, the PPP senator alleged that attempts were made to manipulate the electoral process in Kashmir. She claimed that re-polling was conducted repeatedly in some areas. According to Khan, these actions were part of an alleged attempt to influence the election results. She said the PPP had formally raised objections over the process. Khan said her party had submitted complaints to the relevant authorities. She added that the complaints were supported by evidence. The PPP senator also made allegations against PML-N candidates who won seats in Kashmir. She claimed that some successful candidates could not even visit their own constituencies. Khan said the political situation in Kashmir should be judged on the basis of facts on the ground. She rejected what she described as attempts to present the election results as a clear reflection of public opinion. She also turned her criticism towards the political situation in Punjab. Khan said Lahore should not be treated as a reflection of the entire province. “Lahore is not the whole of Punjab,” she said. The PPP leader urged political leaders to move beyond Lahore and assess the situation in other parts of Punjab. She said the realities outside the provincial capital were different. Khan also claimed that people in Punjab were living under fear because of the Criminal Case Department, or CCD. She said the situation had created concern among citizens. The senator criticised the alleged use of the CCD and said the PPP would oppose any move that could increase its role in Kashmir. “We will not allow Kashmir to be handed over to the CCD,” Khan said. Her statement comes amid political tensions over the election process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties have continued to exchange allegations over polling, re-polling and the credibility of election results. Khan’s remarks reflect the PPP’s wider criticism of the political situation and alleged electoral irregularities. The party has called for its complaints and evidence to be properly examined by the relevant authorities.