*RAWALPINDI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said that hevisited Rawalpindi not to campaign for anyone or on the invitation ofSheikh Rashid Ahmed, but rather to improve the conditions of hospitals inthe city.*
The CJP visited the site of under-construction Mother and Child hospitaland Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology. He directed to provide complete thehospital within eighteen months.
The petitioner in the case Sheikh Rashid, and officials of the Public WorksDepartment (PWD), National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) and otherrelevant departments were also present at the site during the visit.
Justice Nisar lamented delay for more a decade, and said the apex courtwill supervise the construction work from now and there will be nointerruption in release of funds.
At the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, he inspected the provision ofmedicines at pharmacies, waste management system, and the water filtrationplant and instructed to get it tested from laboratories.
He also visited Polyclinic Hospital and expressed disappointment at theclosure of the pharmacy warning to close the hospital if it continues.During a visit to PIMS, the chief justice was barraged with complaints frompatients as the hospital administration sprung to action orderingcleanliness and ensuring the presence of staff members.
Speaking to media after the visit, the top judge said he was not invited toRawalpindi by Sheikh Rashid nor he was campaigning on anyone’s behalf.
“I am not responsible for anyone’s election campaign,” he said adding thathe did not have to visit the hospital as he can issue directives from thecourtroom but it was necessary to improve the situation.
He said he was visiting hospitals on his own freewill to resolve theproblems. “The perception that I visited the hospital on Sheikh Rashid’srequest is wrong,” he said.