KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial health secretary and police chief to file detailed reports on a petition seeking an investigation into the HIV outbreak at a government health facility affecting many children.

A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon granted two weeks’ time to government after a provincial law officer sought more time to file para-wise comments on behalf of official respondents.

The petitioner has filed a preliminary list of children allegedly infected due to alleged reuse of contaminated syringes at the Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital — a Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) facility being run under the labour department— in the SITE area.

Citing the chief secretary and health secretary of Sindh; SESSI chairman, medical superintendent of the hospital, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, IGP, Sindh Child Protection Authority and others as respondents, Advocate Tariq Mansoor petitioned the SHC last month seeking an independent inquiry, registration of a case and lifelong medical treatment, as well as appropriate compensation, for the affected children.

Petitioner claims the number of children affected by reused syringes may be over 200; next hearing fixed for 20th

He has also pleaded for proper implementation the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010 throughout the province and formation of the requisite rules under the law for its enforcement in letter and spirit.

In the last hearing, the bench had put the respondents, besides the federal and provincial law officers, on notices with direction to file comments.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, the petitioner turned up and asserted that the HIV outbreak, initially reported in November last year, was allegedly caused by the reuse of contaminated syringes and gross medical negligence resulting in the infection of around 84 to over 200 children with several reported fatalities.

He also argued that the medical facility in question was a public hospital functioning under the SESSI and responsible for providing medical facilities to insured workers and their dependents while it catered to a large number of patients daily and owes a statutory duty to provide safe and adequate medical treatment.

The petitioner further contended that despite repeated reports in the media regarding the HIV outbreak, no transparent, independent or time-bound inquiry has been conducted to fix responsibility upon the officials and medical staff concerned.

He argued that a legal notice had been served upon the authorities concerned demanding an independent inquiry, registration of criminal proceedings, disclosure of the inquiry report, screening and treatment of affected children, and compensation to the victims.

However, he maintained, no effective action has been taken barring a communication issued by the provincial secretary of the labour and human resources department seeking a report from SESSI.

At one point, the petitioner also got emotional during the hearing and the judges advised him to leave the courtroom if he was willing to deliver a speech. The judges remarked that they have to follow the law and procedure and would come to a conclusion after hearing both sides and examining the reply of respondents.

The petitioner claimed that the actual number of affected children might be over 200.

The provincial law officer sought more time to file comments on behalf of respondents and the bench granted two weeks.

Some victims along with their families also attended the hearing.

Adjourning the hearing till July 20, the bench said, “Meanwhile, respondent No.3 [provincial health secretary] and inspector general of police Sindh shall file a comprehensive report on or before the next date of hearing”.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2026