'Take responsibility': CJP rejects Sindh govt report on children's death in Thar

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

Chief Justice (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday lashed out at Sindh Health Secretary Fazlullah Pechuho for failing to take responsibility for children's deaths in Tharparkar.

A three-member Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and headed by the chief justice, was hearing a suo motu case regarding the death of children in Thar, who died from malnutrition and measles. He admonished Pechuho, who submitted a report prepared by government doctors to the court, for ridding himself of all responsibility by saying that children die because they are underweight.

"The report makes it look like you don't have any responsibility at all," Justice Nisar said at the SC Karachi registry, suggesting that Pechuho "offer his services to another department".

Sindh health secretary then told the court that 50 per cent of the deaths occurred due to pneumonia and diarrhea. He also admitted that doctors did not want to work in the region.

Addressing Senator Raza Rabbani, who appeared before the court today, the chief justice said that the judiciary did not want to interfere in executive matters but is "compelled" to do so due to the poor state of affairs.

Referring to a video clip that showed the poor state of a hospital in Larkana, the ruling PPP's stronghold, the CJP said that he felt "ashamed" and wanted to visit the city to oversee the state of affairs there. He then suggested Senator Rabbani watch that video as well.

The CJP expressed concern over the "numerous health problems in Sindh" and said that hospitals hand over the bodies of children to parents who are left with nothing but grief.

Sindh Advocate General Barrister Zameer Hussain Ghumro's claim that the government had built an "excellent hospital" in Mithi and distributed free wheat in Thar was dismissed by Justice Shah who said that the wheat was "lost in corruption".

After a recess, the court rejected the report submitted by Pechuho and ordered the government to form a committee comprising "neutral doctors" working in Aga Khan Hospital or other hospitals of similar stature.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Mar 31, 2018 02:06pm

Another issue highlighted by CJP without any progress, and show incompetency of the Sind government. Will anything be done? Probably not!

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What about me

Mar 31, 2018 02:13pm

Isn’t health & education responsibility of provincial government? Then why Apex Court of federation jumping into affairs of provinvonces?

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 31, 2018 02:19pm

What else can he do at this crucial juncture in time and history?

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aleem

Mar 31, 2018 02:34pm

CJP please take some action on land mafia which has taken over land of Teachers Society in Karachi

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Common Sense

Mar 31, 2018 02:36pm

While I believe Sindh government is highly incompetent and displays severe negligence, I also believe in democracy and therefore CJP has no jurisdiction in this matter.

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Shahid

Mar 31, 2018 02:55pm

Responsibility! Sir, you are demanding something they know nothing about.

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Talha

Mar 31, 2018 03:02pm

@What about me provincial government is doing it's job? Should we be silent when kids die!

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Syed

Mar 31, 2018 03:03pm

Thank you CJP to show the real picture to corrupt politician and poor performance govts. Sir they don't consider the importance of live of children of others. It is pity.

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Shahid

Mar 31, 2018 03:03pm

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Regarding murder of Female gold medalist student in Faisalabad, I appeal to the Chief Justice to take notice . Also some permanent soloution to the Axis of evil of Politicians and Police . Forgodsake our entire Pakistani nation will pay a heavy price for the cruelty and injustice being done on the masses.

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syed hassan haseeb

Mar 31, 2018 03:08pm

calling sindh govt , govt is like a joke . they have no resonsibility all of them only loot money.

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ali ahmed

Mar 31, 2018 03:18pm

He also admitted that doctors did not want to work in the region. those who get admission and selected as a doctor on Tharparkar should be posted there

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ALI

Mar 31, 2018 03:20pm

Although I do agree that the provincial government's performance has been execrable, however I feel that at this time seeing how the elections are fast approaching, a focus more on tackling the corruption cases of the ENTIRE ruling elite (worth millions of $) is more appropriate.

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Skyhawk

Mar 31, 2018 03:25pm

PPP never takes responsibility for anything. They don't care about the innocent children of thar who are dying of malnutrition, diarrhea and pneumonia. So many of those children died during tthe last four years. The number of deaths is much higher if you consider the previous deaths as well. But PPP is not interested in providing healthcare, education, job opportunities or development of Sindh. And when the CJP takes action then they become angry and suggest him not to interfere. Neither they work themselves nor they let anyone work and make things better for the people. All the PPP seems to be interested in, are just Votes in elections and a lot of votes which they use to get more power, make more money, make more assets and personal gains. CJP has to take action, he is forced to take action, he is devoted to work hard to make things better for Pakistanis. He will definitely take tough actiin against those who are misusing, abusing the public funds and doing corruption. We should be thankful to CJP.

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Mar 31, 2018 03:28pm

Thank you Honourable Chief Justice Supreme Court. It is time that someone goes after corrupt to the core PPP government. PPP government has destroyed Urban Sindh and Rural Sindh in the last 10 years.

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Khan

Mar 31, 2018 03:51pm

Even if Sindh government is a joke, this should be sorted at the polls. Judicial activism denigrates the Parliament. If parties are failing, they must be voted out. Preservation of democracy matters.

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Sami

Mar 31, 2018 03:59pm

This is very small thing There are way more horrible things happening in Sindh From Police to Health and every department only corruption. CJP and Mr Bajwa should take extreme measures to stop all disaster and wrong going in Sindh

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Mar 31, 2018 04:04pm

Thank you so much CJP. Atleast someone is going after this corrupt to the core PPP government. Long Live CJP. Long Live Pakistan.

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Syed Ahmad Sherazi

Mar 31, 2018 04:19pm

The provincial government should shame that Apex court has to remend them of their responsibility.

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Harmony-1©

Mar 31, 2018 04:23pm

@What about me - So you would rather prefer inaction? And where did you get the idea that SC can't look into affairs of the provinces?

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Shahbaz

Mar 31, 2018 04:30pm

CJP you are the only hope n this corrupt government. Please dismiss the entire Sindh corrupt government.

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Reader

Mar 31, 2018 04:44pm

@Sami . Children dying cannot be described as "very small thing", if your dear ones passed away would you ever have the sensibility to describe the event as above?.

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Javaid

Mar 31, 2018 04:52pm

@What about me When provincial govt fails to perform than High courts and Supreme Courts are the institutions people go to for help.

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Nawaz

Mar 31, 2018 04:57pm

CJ is absolutely right to say that judiciary is compelled to interfere in executive matters due to poor state of affairs.

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Iftikhar Husain

Mar 31, 2018 04:57pm

When government fails to deliver justice to people CJP must come to the help in the interest of human justice.

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Nawaz

Mar 31, 2018 04:59pm

@What about me judiciary can interfere to protect people's rights when provincial governments have failed to deliver.

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Ali Vazir

Mar 31, 2018 05:15pm

My both sister and bro-in-law graduated from Sindh Medical College and did their housejob with Jinnah Hospital (JPMC) in 1986. Till 2010 or so, the JPMC was a decent hospital. My wife was operated and child was also taken care there. But soon after the so-called de-centralization and passing of JPMC from federal govt into the cruel clutches of the Sindh Govt, the incompetent and loyal jiyalas, inlcuding so-called doctors started to throng the hospital. The hospital canteen became political office of PPP with photographs of their leaders. If they can ruin an established institution of Karachi, what they can do in Mithi and Thar, is anybody's guess.

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 31, 2018 05:32pm

@Skyhawk Only the speeches of the chairman of PPP Mr. Bilawal Zardari according to scripts. Is it not a matter of shame that Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Qamruzzaman Kaira, Afzal Chin, Sardar Nabeel Gabol, Sherry Rehman,Taj Haider and others bow their heads before Mr. Bilawal Zardari?

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 31, 2018 05:33pm

@Shahbaz Good comment.

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Hopeless

Mar 31, 2018 05:54pm

Sindh has been left at the mercy of looters .Seems no way out

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Abdul Hadi

Mar 31, 2018 05:57pm

Where are so many NGOs collecting millions every year if Sindhi govt is failing to deliver. Issue of children’s death is heart breaking and unfortunately has been highlighted in last many years. Political leadership should prioritize public issue. Hope newly elected women senetor from minority community will make a difference. It’s absolutely clear this is not job of Supreme Court to deal matters like this in the name of fundamental rights. Someone needs to stop this stupidity as provinces particular smaller ones need space.

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My Advice

Mar 31, 2018 06:17pm

It is about time that corrupt, incapable and ignorant officials are held accountable for their poor performance in public service.

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Shah

Mar 31, 2018 06:19pm

Finally some one is taking notice of the dead children of Thar. I have been commenting about it for over a year now. The local PPP and the federal PML-N have both failed our children and mist be held to account.

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Rashid In Chicago

Mar 31, 2018 06:22pm

@What about me ,dear sir ! YOUR GOVERNMENT failed from top to bottom to look after citizen of Pakistan. everybody is busy looting Pakistan.Sorry to say but YOU might be one of them, that's why you do not like the court's interference into matter.

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Chacha

Mar 31, 2018 06:24pm

When you spent all your money in fighting wars there is no more money left for poor people

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Zhear Ahmed

Mar 31, 2018 06:36pm

@Khan yeah so what if kids are dying we will use half baked principles to hide behind our neglect

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Mahmood

Mar 31, 2018 07:17pm

IF the PPP could take responsibility for anything that has gone wrong in Sindh under its watch, it would disband and go out of business altogether, purely on moral grounds. But alas, the life in Dubai and London keeps them so aloof to the plight of the people of this province that they will find every one else in the sun to blame for their own failures, than to admit their own incompetency and follies! The very name of the party, purporedly for the 'People' is a joke and insult to the people of Pakistan.

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arif

Mar 31, 2018 07:31pm

So many issues with Sindh Govt. garbage, healthcare, transport, sea pollution at alarming level. Chief Justice should forget about Panama and address the issues in Sindh which deserves more attention as it is affecting the lives of masses. When is this going to end? we have waited for decades no improvement

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Mar 31, 2018 07:32pm

Thank you CJP, May you live long

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Amjad Durrani Engineer- USA

Mar 31, 2018 08:28pm

@What about me Because my dear your so called people's government failed miserably to provide basic necessities to poor and helpless due to rampant corruption,total neglect, apathy, and criminal indifference to their plight. My very simple query to you is, where should they seek relief to their perpetual miseries, be it drinking water, basic health necessities, and their children deaths due to malnutrition? The CJ is absolutely right of saying that he is ashamed of these happenings and for that matter we should all be fully ashamed too. On one side if one ventures to foreign food chain restaurants in Lahore and Karaci, he will have to wait to find a place to sit and enjoy an expensive meal by Pakistani standards and on the other side children are dying for even not getting life sustaining basic diet, because the wheat destined for them have been stolen by our corrupt lot. One must realize that these are our children and I for one salute the CJP to have come out for their rescue now.

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AZAM AKBAR

Mar 31, 2018 08:33pm

@Mahmood Mr. Mahmood, The grandfather of Bilawal Zardari, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, broke up Pakistan, his parents (Benazir Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari) are the corrupts in the history of Pakistan and he himself is zero. What can expect you from this PPP? But there are some people who still give their votes in favour of regional political party PPP.

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Gauntlet Runner

Mar 31, 2018 08:39pm

No worries for PPP. "After all Bhutto Zinda Hai."

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Falcon1

Mar 31, 2018 08:40pm

For PPP to take responsibility for its own failures, requires someone in the leadership to have a Conscience! Need we say more??

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Khanzada

Mar 31, 2018 09:15pm

This is for ALL those who continue to have some misplaced or misguided sympathy for the PPP = Permanent Plunder Party of Bhutto-Zardari! Atleast, Nawaz and Co. have done something for Lahore and Punjab despite their corruption. Bhutto-Zardari by contrast have not only committed corruption, but their poor governance and criminal negligence have deprived long suffering people of Karachi and interior Sindh of basic hygeine, sanitation, clean water, hospitals and schools! SHAME on you if you support the PPP!

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Abdulla Hussain

Mar 31, 2018 09:42pm

Well done sirs, Pakistan needed such actions as being taken by the honourable courts. Every thing was deliberately thrown out of control, every things are now needed to be controlled.

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Tahira

Mar 31, 2018 11:11pm

Why don't Zardari and Bilawal take a few dollars out of billions of dollars stashed in foreign accounts to safe lives of dying children. Do they really care for people of Sindh?

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Asma_jehanzeb

Apr 01, 2018 12:06am

Who is taking responsibility for the 180,000 plus pending cases in various courts. People are in jail without trial for more than 10 years. CJP should look into this also.

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Amin

Apr 01, 2018 12:32am

Court's rebukes will do hapless people of Sindh no good as their welfare has never been or will be a matter of concern for PPP-led government. No doubt, the CJ is doing a great job, but woefully any positive change in governance of the province seems elusive. People are disappointed. We believe, rightly so, shameless exploitation of people here will go unaddressed as those at the helm of affairs are masters in cheating and forgery. They can throw dust into eyes of any one!

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AZAM AKBAR

Apr 01, 2018 12:34am

@Khanzada Mr. Khanzada, The supporters of PPP are shameless. Does Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan have shame? Does Qamruzzaman Kaira have shame,? Does Afzal Chin have shame? Does Raza Rabbani have shame? Does Taj Haider have shame? Does Sherry Rahman have shame? Does Nabeel Gabol have shame? Does Naz Baloch have shame? Does Shehla Raza have shame? PPP is the most corrupt regional political party of Pakistan.

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Navigator

Apr 01, 2018 12:46am

@What about me a valid question would be why provincial government is failed to fulfill her responsibilities? Don't be so ignorant if you are previlieged to not to live in thar. thanks

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MONIER

Apr 01, 2018 01:43am

" judiciary did not want to interfere in executive matters but is "compelled" to do so due to the poor state of affairs. " Well said CJ

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Khanm

Apr 01, 2018 06:07am

Political decisions should be taken in polling booths, not courts: PM Abbasi and tbis is what they say...You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed for and what have they been tamed for and that is loyal to a party or a person and region and not to the country...

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Muneer

Apr 01, 2018 07:56am

@What about me .You seems to be someone enjoying perks and privileges like Raza Rabbani and not suffering like common people of Sindh.CJP has every constitutional right to do what he and the Bench is doing. You are raising your voice for a small suffering such as interference in health and education by CJP but you are not bothered for suffering of thousands of people due to lack of health ,education and drinking water facilities .The Sindh Government of Zardari,Bilawal has not done these small things for last ten years and were busy in looting resources of the Province taking it as there personal property.

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