KARACHI Sindh High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing on a constitutional petition regarding providing medical treatment to the prisoners suffering from HIV and hepatitis across the province. A single bench of Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai was hearing a petition moved by Syed Iqbal Qazmi seeking provision of medical treatment to the inmates of prisons across the province. On the directive of the court, Project Manager of Sindh Aids Control Programme (SACP), Dr Qamar Abbas, and secretary health appeared before the court to submit their comments. The secretary health informed the court that on the prior SHC directive issued on November 30, 2010, SACP has provided special grant of Rs 42 million for the medical treatments of the prisoners across the Sindh, while further grant of 15 million rupees would be provided after the approval of summery sent to the Sindh Chief Minister. On the occasion, petitioner Syed Iqbal argued that around 2,400 prisoners are in Malir jail but only 684 were examined by SACP determining HIV and hepatitis, whereby 34 cases of HIV positive were determined. He suspected that thousands of prisoners were still suffering from such serious diseases across the province. Quoting the previous SHC order, the plaintiff maintained that Inspector General Sindh Prison was instructed that the prisoners who complete their detention period but suffering from such serious diseased must be treated properly before release. He, however, submitted that prison authorities did not comply with the courts order and since the order was passed, as many as 10 prisoners were released who were suffering from HIV positive without any medical treatment and checkup. The court after hearing their arguments adjourned the hearing for the next date to be fixed later. The petitioner submitted that there were 40 inmates in three prisons of the metropolitan including Karachi central prison, Malir district prison and women and juvenile prisons, while no appropriate medical treatment arrangement has been initiated for the inmates, suffering with such serious diseased, while the number of sufferers would be increased if the negligence attitude of the authorities concerns would not be changed.