Health secy given three days to ensure provision of drugs, medical facilities at Larkana hospital

The chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, on Monday took notice of reports regarding non-availability of essential drugs and medical facilities at Baqrani Hospital, Larkana, and sought comments from the provincial health secretary and the concerned district and sessions judge.

The SHC CJ took notice of media reports regarding paucity of medicines and other medical facilities at the hospital. As per the reports, rabies injections and anti-snake venom were not available at the hospital and patients were compelled to purchase their required medicines from private medical stores as the hospital’s pharmacy and stores were poorly stocked. SHC CJ Sheikh directed the province’s health secretary to look into the matter and to take immediate steps to ensure supply of medicines at the hospital within three days.  

School fees

The Sindh High Court has extended its interim stay order restraining private schools from increasing tuition fees by more than five percent and from taking action against students whose parents had disputed the 14 to 60 percent fee hike imposed by the schools.

Petitioners Bushra Jabeen, Arshad Fawad, Mohammad Shariq Feroz and 600 other parents have challenged the increase in tuition fees at four private schools in violation of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Control) Ordinance, 2001.

They said their children were studying at private schools situated in KDA, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Qasimabad, and the schools’ administrations had increased tuition fee by 12 to 60 percent in violation of the ordinance.

Their counsel, Noman Jamali, submitted in the petition that private schools could only increase tuition fees by up to five percent, that too subject to proper justification and prior approval of the registration authority.

He submitted that the schools’ administrations were sending reminders and notices to the parents with regards to fee hikes which was unlawful. The counsel submitted that school administrations were not issuing fees vouchers and examination forms. Adjourning the hearing till February 13, the court directed the school administrations to issue examination forms to the students whose parents had challenged the fee hike.

The court also extended the interim stay order declaring that private schools’ administrations should not take any action by way of enhancement of fees or otherwise prejudicial to any student whose parent or guardian was a petitioner in the instant case.  

Edu officer’s disappearance

The SHC has issued notices to the federal and provincial law officers, the Sindh police chief and others on a petition against the disappearance of an education officer.

The family of Education Director Shoaib Ahmed Khan has submitted that he went to his office on January 17 and whereabouts since remain unknown. The court was requested to direct the police and law enforcement agencies to recover the missing person at the earliest.

Raheela Magsi’s plea

The Sindh High Court directed the provincial law officer to submit a report regarding approval of inquiry against Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Senator Dr Raheela Magsi by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

The court was hearing a petition filed by Dr Magsi against the inquiry being conducted by the ACE. Dr Magsi has challenged the initiation of the inquiry regarding awarding of contract without fulfilment of codal formalities and misappropriation of millions in procurement of furniture for the DCO secretariat and district nazim offices.

Dr Magsi submitted she was being victimised after 12 years by the ruling provincial party soon after a visit of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders to her residence.

The provincial law officer submitted that the ACE had completed the inquiry against Dr Magsi for illegally purchasing 274 acres of agricultural land in her and family members names during her tenure as district nazim from 2005 to 2006. He submitted that on conclusion of the inquiry, the matter had been placed before the Anti Corruption Circle-I for approval of an FIR against the petitioner.

However, the meeting could not be held as the chief secretary was engaged in the Supreme Court’s proceedings on human rights cases. The provincial law officer sought time to submit a report and also requested the court to dismiss Dr Magsi’s petition as not maintainable. The court, while extending Dr Magsi’s protective bail, directed the law officer to submit a progress report on February 19.