CJP summons Balochistan CMs to explain working

QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday summoned 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 during his visit to 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 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 including Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mubashir Alam.

During the hearing, the Justice Saqib Nisar expressed surprise over the closure of Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in 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 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 government hospitals and asked who will tend to the patients if the doctors are on strike.

CJP remarked that the health sector should seek assistance from the government for improving the current situation. Later in the day, the CJP visited Civil Hospital Quetta where he interacted with patients and visited a strike camp of paramedics and young doctors.

Justice Nisar ordered 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. Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and other officials accompanied the chief justice during his visit.