KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday reserved its order on a petition seeking an independent inquiry into the HIV outbreak at the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run hospitals amid an uproar and protests by a petitioner and family members of affected children during the court proceedings.

The petitioner insisted that the court could not dispose of the petition and asserted that the respondents had not filed complete replies/comments as the affected families raised slogans in the courtroom during the hearing.

After hearing arguments, a two-judge bench of the SHC headed by Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon reserved the order for pronouncement during the course of the day. However, it is likely to be announced on Wednesday (today).

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

Families of children who contracted disease at Valika Hospital protest in courtroom

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the petitioner asserted that around 120 children had so far been found HIV positive while nine patients/children had died during the pendency of this petition.

He also stated that an inquiry report and facts related to the subject matter were not being placed before the court and that Dr Shazia Altaf had concealed facts from the inquiry committee.

When the judges specifically asked the petitioner about the relief he was seeking, he replied that the labour department had informed him through a letter that a high-powered committee was being constituted and its report was to be shared with him, but the same was not provided yet.

The petitioner also contended that an official facing allegations in the subject issue was made in-charge of the endowment fund while the secretary of the health department could lodge a complaint against the responsible officials.

Some mothers of affected children informed the bench that four to five children were treated on a single bed at the hospital, and syringes were reused multiple times.

A woman also submitted that the authorities concerned had yet to pay a single penny as compensation.

The counsel for SESSI stated that 37 officers of the hospital, including Dr Shazia, had been suspended and show-cause notices had also been issued to them while funds had been located for treatment and rehabilitation of affected children.

The counsel also submitted that a special ward had been set up at Agha Khan Hospital for treatment of such children.

An additional advocate general contended that a law regulating and controlling disposable syringes was available and that action would be taken against the officials found accountable.

The provincial law officer also argued that the petition may be disposed of as the purpose had been served and compliance reports had also been filed in the court, while a case could not be lodged until the determination of the accountable officials.

The petitioner got emotional during the hearing and said that how could the court dispose of the petition as complete replies of respondents had not been filed yet.

The judges observed that a case was to be lodged if cognizable offence/offences were found during the investigations and advised the petitioner to follow judicial decorum instead of doing politics in the courtroom.

The petitioner and family members of affected children cried and screamed during the proceedings, and later also chanted slogans in the courtroom, disrupting the court proceedings.

Subsequently, the judges left the courtroom and went to their chambers.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026