Valika Hospital HIV Cases: Call for Federal JIT Probe
- Suggested slug: valika-hospital-hiv-children-federal-jit-demand
- Category: National News
- Focus keyphrase: Valika Hospital HIV
- SEO title: Valika Hospital HIV Cases: Call for Federal JIT Probe
- Meta description: Families of children allegedly infected with HIV at Karachi’s Valika Hospital demand a federal JIT, saying inquiries have produced no report or FIR.
- Tags: Valika Hospital, Karachi, HIV, children health, JIT, Sindh government, Tariq Mansoor, Auqaf Fund
- Original element: local angle: four children from one family are affected, yet only two receive Auqaf Fund assistance, and parents say even issued cheques cannot be cashed on time.
- Sources: The Express Tribune (https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636786/federal-jit-sought-to-probe-valika-hospital-hiv-cases)
- Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Internal links: publisher to add from the link DB at publish time; no fitting verified Feature Pakistan URL was in this run’s context.
- Image note: Tribune lead image could not be verified as a real photo of the hospital or families; publisher to verify a real photo at publish time. Do not create thumbnails in this draft.
Advocate Tariq Mansoor, representing children in the Valika Hospital HIV cases in Karachi, has demanded that the federal government constitute a high-level Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to conduct an independent and impartial inquiry into the incident.
He accused the Sindh government of attempting to suppress the case. He claimed that no report had been submitted by the inquiry committee formed to investigate the incident, while no first information report (FIR) had been registered so far.
What the families are asking for
The lawyer demanded a transparent investigation to identify those responsible and ensure justice, lifelong medical treatment and financial assistance for the affected children.
He urged the federal government to constitute a JIT under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act. He appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to intervene in the matter.
He stressed the need to broaden the scope of the investigation to examine all relevant aspects of the incident and determine responsibility. A narrow inquiry, he argued, would not answer how children receiving treatment came to be infected, or who failed to prevent it.
Parents describe daily hardship
Meanwhile, parents of the affected children complained that they continued to face serious difficulties in securing medical treatment, financial assistance and justice.
According to the parents, four children from one family have been diagnosed with HIV, but only two are receiving financial assistance from the Auqaf Fund. The gap leaves half of one family’s affected children without the support the others receive, for reasons the parents say have never been explained to them.
They said medical facilities had initially improved but subsequently deteriorated again. Despite the formation of several inquiry committees, the difficulties faced by affected families remained unresolved, while many were still awaiting financial assistance.
The parents complained that even after receiving financial assistance cheques, they were unable to obtain the funds on time. They said they had repeatedly informed the authorities about their difficulties but were merely advised to remain patient.
“Our children are fighting this disease every day, while our families are struggling to meet medical and other expenses,” the parents said.
A campaign beyond the courts
They demanded uninterrupted, quality medical treatment for their children, transparent and timely disbursement of financial assistance and concrete measures to safeguard their future.
Advocate Mansoor further alleged that he had been subjected to pressure and received phone calls over his efforts to advocate for the rights of the affected children. He vowed to continue his struggle despite these pressures.
He said he had also written letters to the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and European organisations, seeking their support for the affected families.
The lawyer appealed to the public to raise their voices for the children and launch a social media campaign under the slogan “Justice for Valika Hospital.”
He emphasised that the affected children needed practical relief rather than mere announcements and repeated inquiry committees. Such relief, he said, must include lifelong medical treatment, uninterrupted access to medicines, financial assistance and a transparent investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
The case now rests on whether the federal government acts on the JIT demand, or whether the families face another inquiry committee with no report at the end of it.
Frequently asked questions
What is being demanded in the Valika Hospital case?
A high-level federal Joint Investigation Team under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, to conduct an independent inquiry into children allegedly infected with HIV at the hospital.
