KARACHI: The Drug Court Sindh is without judge after the expiry of four-year contract of Chairman/Judge Saathi M Ishaque on November 12.
Mr Ishaque was appointed the Chairman/Judge of the Court for a four-year contract on November 13, 2010. The sources concerned said that during his tenure, the former judge disposed off some 250 cases. Around 115 cases are still pending with the Court.
The absence of judge at the Court will have repercussions on public health because the Court is mandated to hear the cases governed by Drug Act 1976 and Drug Rules 1979. The cases pertain not only spurious, sub-standard, violations of Drug Rules, expiry dates, not-for-sale samples but also unregistered, smuggled drugs and pharmaceutical raw materials. The court was established about 36 years ago under the Drugs Act of 1976 to prosecute those violating the law.
