SC praises Punjab government, questions Sindh govt's steps

The Supreme Court Tuesday lauded the steps taken by the Punjab government, but questioned the measures adopted by the Sindh government to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Monday heard suo motu case on the measures taken by the federal, all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan governments to curb the spread of the coronavirus in their respective areas.

The written order of suo motu hearing issued on Tuesday said: "The report [filed by advocate general Punjab] shows that certain steps have been taken by the Government of the Punjab, which seems to be in a positive direction and we hope that they will continue to enhance their capacity in making available; PPEs, all sorts of other protection equipment required by the people fighting such pandemic."

Similarly, the bench expressed satisfaction over the reports of the KP and Balochistan and noted; "It seems the effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is not so much alarming in these two provinces, and GB, and things are being kept in control."

However, about steps taken by Sindh, the order noted; "We noted with concern that the provincial government has passed an executive order yesterday sealing 11 Union Councils (UCs) in Karachi."

The apex court said the advocate general Sindh though gave justification for such sealing, but placed nothing to show that such is correct and well founded.

It has raised questions what programme the Sindh government has prepared to implement the sealing of 11 UCs, how the people will be reached for medical testing and screening, and if any such case is found, what further steps the Sindh government will take to secure the affected person, and what about his family and persons who have been exposed to him.

Whether medical teams and logistics in each of the 11 UCs have been deputed to undertake all exercises? How basic necessities, including, food, groceries and other utilities will be made available to the residents of these 11 UCs?

The order also questions the distribution of free ration worth Rs8 billion by the Sindh government.

"We are not sure how far this is true but note that there is no documentation of purchase of ration, and its distribution made available to this court by the Government of Sindh. This is a very sorry state-of-affairs prevailing in the province of Sindh, where not only in Karachi but other cities of the province of Sindh, people are protesting lack of subsistence to them," said the order.

The AG Sindh has been directed to file a comprehensive report in this regard well before the next hearing.