Sindh govt requests SHC to only allow urgent hearings due to rising coronavirus cases

• Sindh govt requests SHC to hold urgent hearings to protect judges, lawyers, court staff and litigants.
• Murtaza Wahab informs SHC CJ about decision taken by provincial task force on COVID-19.
• Sindh government spokesperson lauds SHC CJ for taking effective measures in first wave of COVID-19.

The Sindh government has requested the high court of the province to only allow hearings of urgent court cases due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

“Sindh Government in pursuance of decisions made by Provincial Task Force and in order to control rise of COVID-19 cases has requested Chief Justice of Sindh High Court to only take up urgent court matters so that the Hon’ble Judges, learned lawyers, court staff & litigants are protected,” tweeted Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab along with a letter he sent to SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh.

In the letter, Wahab spoke about the recent surge in active cases of COVID-19 and the rising death toll because of it.

He informed the SHC that the provincial task force on COVID-19 is monitoring the situation daily and has taken multiple measures to curtail the spread of the virus.

Read more: Sindh govt changes days of operating businesses once again

Wahab appreciated the SHC CJ for taking “very effective and efficient measures in controlling and containing the severity of the disease” in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The current situation demands reiteration of the similar earlier administrative measures taken and implemented by your honour last year. I would, therefore, request and urge if the routine court work is suspended and only matters of urgent nature ore fixed for hearing,” said Wahab in the letter.

Sindh govt closes all schools, colleges and universities amid COVID-19 surge

The meeting which Wahab had referred to in the letter had decided a day earlier that all schools, colleges and universities will remain closed in the province due to the rising coronavirus cases in the provinces.

Wahab tweeted that Sindh government offices will operate with an essential staff of 20% only as the country battles a dangerous third wave of coronavirus.

"All schools, colleges and universities shall also remain closed due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases," said Wahab.

Read more: Sindh govt bans wedding functions from April 6 to curb coronavirus cases

The Sindh government spokesperson’s tweet came after CM Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus.

The officials present in the meeting were briefed on the coronavirus situation in the province. They were told the province presently has 664 ICU beds with ventilators.

They were also informed that oxygen plants are present at Dow University Ojha Campus, Trauma Centre and Gambat Hospital.

Read more: Sindh govt seeks army's help in implementation of coronavirus SOPs

Following the meeting, a spokesperson of CM Sindh announced that government offices will be closed in Sindh. He added that the secretaries have been ordered to summon their important staff only and rest should work from home.

He also confirmed about the closure of educational institutes as announced by Wahab.

The provincial government, according to the spokesperson, has decided to ban visits in jails.

The spokesperson added that inter-city transport will also be banned in Sindh from Thursday, April 29.

Later, speaking to the media, CM Shah said the Sindh government will also seek the Pakistan Army's help in implementation of SOPs.