The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the Sindh government to form a high-level inquiry committee to investigate HIV cases involving children and determine who was responsible.
A two-member bench of the high court issued a written order directing the Sindh chief secretary to head the empowered investigation committee.
The court also ordered that those found responsible should be identified and action should be taken against them.
The committee will include two senior Grade 20 officers and must submit a detailed report to the court within two months. The court said it would review the report and issue further orders as appropriate.
The inquiry committee has been tasked with finding the exact number of affected children, determining how the HIV infections were transmitted, and investigating whether syringes were reused.
Under the court’s order, all medical treatment for the affected children will be provided free of charge by the Sindh government and the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution.
The chief secretary has also been directed to speed up the process of providing financial assistance and compensation to the affected children and their families.
The court stressed that the children living with HIV and their families must not face any discrimination and that their privacy must be protected.
The children affected by HIV had been admitted to Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital.
During the hearing, the court issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court to petitioner’s lawyer Tariq Mansoor over alleged misconduct and slogan-chanting. He was directed to submit a written response and appear before the court in person.
The high court also directed the High Court Bar Association and the Sindh Bar Council to take immediate and appropriate action under the law over the lawyer’s alleged improper conduct.
