PIMS nursery fire, citizens forum demands judicial inquiry 

RAWALPINDI – Citizens Forum has called for an independent judicial inquiry into the deaths of 14 newborn babies in a fire at the nursery of the Mother and Child Health Ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), terming the incident a national tragedy.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad, former Commissioner of the Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights Chaudhry Shafiq demanded a transparent judicial investigation, removal of officials allegedly responsible from their posts until the inquiry is completed, and public release of the investigation report.

He said the deaths of 14 innocent children could not simply be dismissed as an accident. He called for a detailed investigation into possible negligence, fire-safety arrangements, staff presence, emergency response and the responsibility of the hospital administration.

Chaudhry Shafiq said weaknesses in the government’s monitoring and oversight system should also be identified. He stressed that the state has a fundamental responsibility to protect the lives of citizens, particularly children, but repeated incidents indicate serious shortcomings in safety arrangements and governance at public-sector hospitals.

He said a committee comprising technical experts, legal experts and judicial representatives should be constituted to ensure a transparent investigation. He also called for the incident to be examined from a human-rights perspective, with relevant national human-rights institutions reviewing the matter within their mandates.

Citizens Forum Convener William Pervez called for a transparent audit of resources allocated for fire safety, equipment and protective measures at government hospitals in Islamabad. He said inquiry committees are formed after tragedies, but similar incidents recur because effective action is rarely taken against those responsible.

Pervez demanded a judicial inquiry, publication of its findings, a nationwide audit of fire-safety arrangements in hospitals, and implementation of recommendations contained in previous inquiry reports.

Social activist Dr Bashir Hussain Shah described the incident as a crisis of state governance and accountability rather than a political issue. He said public hospitals are under excessive pressure and stressed the need to strengthen the healthcare system at the primary level.

The speakers demanded independent audits of fire safety, emergency exits, electrical systems, oxygen supplies, nurseries and emergency training for staff at PIMS and public and private hospitals across the country.

Citizens Forum representatives said they would continue monitoring the incident and the government’s response and would issue their own report within 15 days.