PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench on Friday summoned the provincial health secretary, Peshawar deputy commissioner and Peshawar district health officer to inform it about the steps taken to control and prevent dengue fever in the city.

Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Abdul Shakoor issued the order after the hearing into a petition filed by lawyer Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel, who had requesting the court to ask the respondents, including the provincial government, health and local government secretaries, and Peshawar deputy commissioner to take immediate steps for the eradication of dengue in the capital city.

The bench fixed Aug 22 for the next hearing asking the relevant officials, including health secretary, DHO and Peshawar DC, to appear in person and explain their respective positions about steps taken by them to stop dengue fever from spreading.

The petitioner requested the court to declare the acts of respondents of ‘not taking measures for eradication and stopping of dengue virus and not providing health facilities’ to citizens of the infected locality illegal, unjustified and against the public policy and basic fundamental rights provided in the Constitution.

He also sought the court’s order for the respondents to start fumigation campaign in Peshawar and provide the infected people free treatment in government hospitals.

The petitioner said hundreds of people, especially in the locality of Tehkal, University Road and Warsak Road, suffered from dengue.

He added that in recent days, several people had died of dengue, while hundreds of patients of the mosquito-borne disease were under treatment in hospitals. The petitioner claimed that the hospitals had stopped admitting patients due to lack of space endangering the life of those denied admission.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2017