SHC appoints Nazir, doctors to inspect medical facilities at Karachi airport

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed its Nazir to visit the Jinnah International Airport along with nominated doctors and submit a report with regard to first-aid and medical facilities at the airport.

The direction came on a petition seeking medical facilities and first aid at all the airports of the country. The petitioner, Syed Mohammad Zafar, submitted that his brother Tariq Zafar died at the Karachi airport in January this year due to non-availability of first aid and basic medical facilities.

The petitioner’s counsel, Mehmood Mandviwalla, submitted that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has not made proper measures to provide medical treatment and first aid at the airports in case of emergency.

He sought a direction for the CAA to make available at all airports fully-equipped first-aid centres, including cardiac resuscitation stations and automated external defibrillators.

He also sought action against CAA officials for their failure to provide medical facilities for the passengers at the airports.

A counsel for the CAA filed a report that said various facilities were available at the Jinnah International Airport in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The petitioner and the CAA’s counsels jointly suggested that the Nazir of the SHC may be appointed as the commissioner to inspect the airport and submit a report as to whether such first-aid and emergency facilities were available there or not.

Both the lawyers also submitted the names of three doctors each who would accompany the Nazir during his visit to the airport.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar also added two doctor, Dr Mohammad Baqir and Dr AT Iftikhar, in the team that would inspect the airport.

The high court also ordered the CAA to provide the doctors and the Nazir access to the Jinnah International Airport. The inspection team was directed to submit a report within three weeks.