LAHORE, Jan 29: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to produce report of a judicial inquiry into the Punjab Institute of Cardiology scam and details about steps taken for the implementation of the recommendations.

The chief justice was hearing a petition questioning the government’s failure to implement findings and recommendations given by a judicial tribunal. Judicial Activism Panel chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique filed the petition and submitted that a number of patients had lost their lives and hundreds were still under treatment after using medicines supplied by the PIC.

He said there was a need for thorough investigation to fix responsibility for criminal negligence and licences of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing substandard medicines should be cancelled.

He requested the court to order the government to make the inquiry report public and also ensure its implementation.

The chief justice directed the advocate general to ensure production of the inquiry report on Feb 4, the next date of hearing.