The Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench has directed the Sindh government to submit a detailed report within two weeks regarding the alleged HIV outbreak among children treated at the government-run Kulsum Bai Valika Social Security SITE Hospital in Karachi.
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The order was issued during the hearing of a petition seeking legal action over the alleged spread of HIV among children due to the reported reuse of contaminated syringes at the hospital.
A large number of HIV-positive children and their parents attended the court proceedings. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the Sindh government had shown gross negligence in handling the matter, alleging that contaminated syringes used at Valika Hospital had infected hundreds of children.
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The lawyer told the court that nine children had died while hundreds of others had contracted HIV. He submitted that despite eight months having passed since the deaths, no meaningful action had been taken by the authorities.
The petitioners further informed the bench that although an inquiry had been initiated following a legal notice, its findings had neither been presented before the court nor shared with the affected families. The counsel also stated that international organisations, including UNICEF, had expressed concern over the situation.
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According to the petition, no First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered in connection with the deaths of the affected children. The petitioners urged the court to intervene, warning that further delays could put more children’s lives at risk.
During the hearing, Justice Adnan Karim observed that although the court understood the seriousness of the issue, the case would proceed strictly in accordance with the law. He remarked that the court would follow the prescribed legal procedure before reaching any conclusion.
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When the petitioners’ counsel maintained that the government had failed to take action, Justice Adnan Iqbal directed him to allow the court to perform its role. The bench stated that it would decide the matter only after receiving responses from all parties.
The court adjourned the hearing until July 20 and issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies within the stipulated time.
