Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Quetta, Arbab Kamran briefing Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar and Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo about problems of the hospital during their visit on Monday.QUETTA, April 9: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday directed the last two chief ministers of Balochistan – Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri – to appear before the apex court and explain what they did for the improvement of governance in the province during their respective tenures.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the CJP, was hearing cases at the court’s Quetta registry regarding the plight of public hospitals and medical colleges, and a doctors’ strike in the province.
“Three chief ministers came during one tenure [of the federal government] but what did they do for improvement of governance?” the CJP asked. “Call these chief ministers who ruled here for more than four years.”
The incumbent Balochistan chief minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, also reached the apex court along with Health Minister Mir Majid Abro.
Over one million children in the province remain out of schools, Secretary Education Noorul Haq Baloch informed the court, adding that around 2.6m children should have been currently enrolled in schools.
“Why has the government failed to enrol out of school children?” the chief justice asked.
During the hearing, Justice Nisar asserted that he would want provision of water and healthcare to become the primary focus of the government. “According to Articles 184 and 199 of the Constitution, we have the right to intervene wherever basic human rights are violated.”
Secretary Health Saleh Nisar informed the court that a policy was being planned within the next ten days to improve the condition of government-run hospitals.
“Let us know what help you require from the federation,” the CJP told the officials. He also expressed his surprise upon learning that the OPDs in public hospitals of the province had been closed down.
The CJP repeated his commitment to ensuring medical colleges don’t charge exorbitant fees. “We want the money to be returned to 20 million students,” he said, adding that all amounts above Rs856,000 in annual fees should be returned by the medical colleges. -Agencies
