KARACHI: Suspension of the posting order of Prof. Shahid Rasul as executive director Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) by the Sindh High Court on December 02 is still not implemented by the chief secretary Sindh or Sindh government nor ED has relinquished the charge himself committing contempt of court, it's learnt by this scribe.

Issuing order on the suit filed by the Dr. Nazish Butt of JPMC against the posting of Prof. Shahid Rasul, an employee of the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) by the Sindh government, the SHC issued an order on December 02, 2024 in which notices were served to defendants, DAG and AAG for December 19, 2024, and suspended the notification of Prof. Shahid Rasul posting.

The chief secretary Sindh Syed Asif Hyder Shah didn't take SHC orders seriously and did not remove Prof. Shahid Rasul from the post of ED JPMC despite suspension of notification of SGA&D issued on October 01, 2024.

On the other hand Prof. Shahid Rasul, a surgeon by specialty holding position of an admin cadre also not relinquished the charge of executive director in compliance of court orders. The chief secretary Sindh and the Prof. Shahid Rasul have committed contempt of court by ignoring court orders, sources claimed.

In the sequence of activities after court orders, Prof. Shahid Rasul invited media persons to his office and held a press conference confronting court orders and justifying his posting by counting his achievements. On his behest, a group of young doctors also held a protest in the hospital and boycotted OPDs of JPMC depriving thousands of patients came that day for seeking treatment, sources further told.

Chief secretary Sindh Syed Asif Hyder Shah not only didn't follow SHC orders to remove Prof. Shahid Rasul as ED JPMC rather invited him in an official meeting held at his office about upgradation of emergency departments of hospitals. Prof. Shahid Rasul was seen sitting in that meeting chaired by the chief secretary and participating. These acts clearly conveyed a  message in defiance of court orders by the highest government office of the province and showed rudeness or ignorance of chief secretary Sindh.

This scribe shared court order copy with chief secretary and requested his version on it Sunday late night. The CS Asif Hyder Shah responded and stated that all orders of the honourable courts are implemented as soon as received, in true Spirit.

Replying to queries that why ED JPMC has not stopped from working as head after court orders and why he was invited to join him (CS) in an official meeting held at chief secretary office about upgradation of hospital emergencies, Asif Hyder Shah said that the high court has suspended the notification itself till the 19th December that means the implementation on the notification stands held in abeyance. That means Dr. Shahid Rasul should not function as ED, he agreed.

But the CS also contested that court order has no direction to the CS or the government of Sindh to withdraw the notification. Whosoever has compiled the story is oblivious of the government and court proceedings, Asif Hyder Shah added.

Replying to another question about Prof. Shahid Rasul presence in meeting, the CS told that it was a brainstorming session about emergency services and it includes experts, and Dr. Shahid Rasul could have been invited in that capacity as well.

On a question that why Prof. Shahid Rasul has not stopped working as ED and continued to sign office orders and financial bills even, the chief secretary replied that then he (Prof. Shahid Rasul) should be asked by the court not us.

This scribe also contacted Prof. Shahid Rasul and spokesman of the hospital for their versions but got no reply till the story was filed.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 15 2024

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