LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the federal government to submit complete details of quarantine centres and other facilities being provided to the citizens returning from abroad, particularly Iran.

The high court bench also expressed concern over non-implementation of health emergency and the lockdown in the province, saying children had been witnessed playing cricket in streets and parks.

Earlier, during the hearing of a petition questioning the government’s action to contain coronavirus pandemic, Additional Attorney General Ishtiaq A Khan told the bench three quarantine centres had been established in Taftan for the pilgrims returning from Iran.

He said a quarantine centre had also been established in Islamabad for the citizens returning to the country through special international flights. He pointed out that 6,000 more citizens were set to return to Pakistan from Iran.

Expresses concern at non-implementation of lockdown

Punjab Primary Healthcare Secretary Muhammad Usman and Specialised Healthcare Secretary Nabeel Awan were also present in the court.

Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan said had the timely precautionary measures been taken at the Taftan border for the returning pilgrims, the situation would have not been so serious.

To a query about setting up laboratories in each district, Mr Usman told the bench the matter would be taken up in a meeting of the provincial cabinet held on Tuesday.

Mr Awan stated that the testing facility would be started at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and another hospital within a day. He further pointed out that 430 ventilators at public sector were available in Lahore and 452 in the private sector while a total of 752 were available in other districts.

A jail official told the bench hat a prisoner at Camp Jail had tested positive for coronavirus and he was being kept in isolation. A law officer stated that a 100-bed hospital was being set up in the jail.

The bench took notice of costly test of coronavirus being conducted by private labs and directed the government to rationalise the prices of the test in private sector.

The bench adjoined its further hearing till March 27.

The bench dismissed an application by Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Azhar Siddique to become a party in the case.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan and Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi were other members at the bench.

vulnerable prisoners: The Lahore High Court has been asked to order release from Punjab jails of the prisoners who are at risk of getting infected by coronavirus.“Prisoners are also guaranteed right to life, rather a heavy burden lies on the State to safeguard this most valuable fundamental right because a prisoner does not have the freedom to make choices or decisions to regulate affairs of his/her life,” pleads the petition filed by human rights activists from the Public Lawyers Front through Advocate Usama Khawar Ghumman. Ms Jannat Kalyar and Ramis Sohail.

The petition has pointed out that unhygienic and overall poor conditions of prisons in the country has been extensively documented. In Punjab, 29 of the 41 prisons are overcrowded. Prisons in Punjab have a capacity of 32,477 inmates but the current of population of prisoners is 47,077.

The petition contends that according to government’s own report, Punjab has a large number of under-trial prisoners. The ratio in Punjab’s jail of prisoners under trial and those convicted is skewed, with 26,725 under trial prisoners and only 17,056 convicted prisoners.

The older people (above 60 years) are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus due to their weaker immune systems. The prisons all over the country are housing 1,527 elderly prisoners. Punjab has more than 807 elderly prisoners above 60.

It argues that a prisoner has no option but to absolutely rely on the state and the prison authorities for his/her welfare and medical needs. This reliance gives rise to a duty of care on the part of the state and its functionaries.

The petition asks the court to order release of prisoners including under-trial and convicted, whose offences fall within the ambit of non-prohibitory clauses, who pose no imminent threat to public security, those with underlying health conditions or above age of 55, women who have minor children requiring care during public health emergency.

A five-member full bench will take up the petition on Friday.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020