CJP summons Balochistan CMs to explain performance

QUETTA: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, on Monday summoned the former chief ministers of Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri today (Tuesday) to explain their role in the development and governance of the province. Incumbent Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo also appeared in the court along with Health Minister Mir Majid Abro. Following the hearing, the two accompanied the chief justice on his visit of hospitals in the provincial capital.

The CJP inquired about the state of health and education facilities in Balochistan during the hearing of the doctors’ strike case at the Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry. The hearing focused on the deteriorating condition of government hospitals and medical colleges in the province.

Two different benches at the Quetta Registry are hearing the cases with a three-member bench headed by the CJP is hearing civil cases. The bench includes Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah. The other bench is hearing criminal cases headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and includes Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mubashir Alam.

During the hearing, Justice Saqib Nisar expressed surprise over the closure of the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in the government hospitals and remarked that health and water should be given prime importance and an ordinary citizen should be offered low cost treatment. “Unfortunately, our medical colleges lack standard,” Justice Saqib Nisar said. The chief justice also expressed his desire to visit hospitals in the province and remarked that Balochistan is important to them. The CJP also probed the health secretary regarding the number of ventilators and electronic control units (ECU) in the government hospitals and asked who will tend to patients if doctors are on strike. The CJP remarked that the health sector should seek assistance from the government for improving the current situation.

Later in the day, the CJP visited the Civil Hospital, Quetta, where he interacted with patients and visited a strike camp of paramedics and young doctors. Justice Nisar ordered the authorities to listen to the demands of the protesting doctors and present a report to him. Following the CJP's visit, the medics called off their strike.