Key Takeaways
- Sindh Assembly rejected a resolution seeking an independent commission to probe the HIV outbreak.
- Labour Minister Saeed Ghani opposed the resolution, stating that work on the issue was already underway.
- Over 100 children were confirmed infected with HIV at Valika Hospital, prompting a Rs2bn endowment fund.
The Sindh Assembly on Monday rejected a resolution seeking the constitution of an independent commission to investigate the HIV outbreak in the province. The resolution, tabled by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) lawmaker Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, expressed serious concern over the HIV-related issue reported at Valika Hospital.
According to Siddiqui's resolution, the House recommended that the Government of Sindh constitute an independent commission to investigate the matter and determine whether HIV has spread beyond the reported cases and the extent of the issue across the province.
Labour Minister Saeed Ghani opposed the resolution, stating that work on the issue was already underway and an endowment fund had been established. He urged the mover to withdraw his resolution.
However, Siddiqui preferred his resolution to be placed for a vote in the house, which rejected it with the majority votes of treasury members.
A couple of weeks ago, the Sindh government had confirmed that over 100 children had been infected with HIV at Valika Hospital. In response, the government had set up a Rs2bn endowment fund for the treatment and rehabilitation of affected children and their families.
The proceedings were hampered due to the absence of members, as neither the movers of five resolutions nor the lawmakers who had submitted questions were present in the house. The session, chaired by Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah, could not take up most of the items on the agenda.
The speaker expressed displeasure over the poor attendance, stating that it had become a practice for members to submit questions and resolutions but remain absent when the business was taken up. He directed that members ensure their presence and stressed the need for seriousness in the effective functioning of the house.
The listed questions were submitted by the MQMP members Muhammad Daniyal and Syed Muhammad Usman, who were not present in the house during Question Hour. In reply to a private motion by MQMP MPA Quratulain seeking installation of street lights on all highways, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that all national highways fell under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
