CJP takes first suo moto notice over lack of facilities over COVID-19

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Taking first suo moto notice, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed has taken notice over the lack of facilities in hospitals dealing with coronavirus patients. According to the details garnered, the chief justice raised questioned to concerned authorities that which steps has been taken to tackle COVID-19. “Which facilities are being provided in the hospitals?,” he questioned. A five member larger bench of Supreme Court headed by the chief justice will conduct the hearing on April 13. The top court has also issued notices to attorney general and secretary health and interior in this regard. Earlier, raising questions about steps taken by the government to tackle the coronavirus situation, Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad remarked that no practical measures were being taken in this regard. On the other hand, the number of coronavirus patients increased to 4,489 after 284 new cases were reported during the last 24 hours on Friday. According to the data available with the National Command and Operation Centre, three more deaths were reported within 24 hours, soaring the toll to 66. Punjab continued to lead the patients tally with 2,279 cases, while patients have increased to 1,128 in Sindh, 620 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 219 in Balochistan and 107 in Islamabad. There are 215 reported cases in Gilgit-Baltistan and 33 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 727 patients have recovered after treatment in hospitals across the country. The condition of 45 patients is being stated to be critical. So far tests have been conducted on 54,706 patients after 2,478 tests were carried out on suspected patients during the last 24 hours.