The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a detailed report from the Sindh health secretary and the provincial police chief after a public interest petition was filed regarding an alleged HIV outbreak at Kulsum Bai Valika SESSI Hospital in Karachi.

The petition claims that the outbreak may have been caused by the reuse of contaminated syringes and medical negligence, allegedly affecting between 84 and over 200 children, with reports of several deaths.

A two-member bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry, took up the case and noted concerns about the lack of a transparent, independent inquiry into the matter despite repeated media reports and legal notices issued by the petitioner.

The hospital, which operates under the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI), is responsible for providing healthcare to insured workers and their families.The court observed that the facility has a statutory duty to ensure safe medical treatment.

The petitioner also demanded criminal proceedings, disclosure of inquiry findings, screening and treatment for affected children, and compensation for victims, but claimed no meaningful action had been taken except for administrative correspondence seeking reports.

During proceedings, the court was informed that a preliminary list of affected children had been submitted, while the actual number of cases may exceed 200.The petitioner also referenced similar outbreaks in other parts of Pakistan linked to unsafe injection practices.The court granted two weeks for comments from the Sindh government and adjourned the hearing.The case will be heard again on July 20.

The petition is based on constitutional rights including life, dignity, equality, and access to information, highlighting concerns over public health negligence and enforcement of syringe safety laws.