PIMS safety crisis, petition seeks action after 14 children’s deaths

Islamabad: The Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences faces serious legal scrutiny after a constitutional petition filed in the Islamabad High Court sought his removal and an investigation into the deaths of 14 children at the PIMS Mother and Child Hospital nursery.

The petition, filed by Advocate Nasir Azeem Khan through Muhammad Waqas Malik, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, and Muhammad Bilal Mughal, Advocate High Court, asks the Islamabad High Court to direct the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to remove Dr Rana Imran Sikinder, Executive Director PIMS and MCH PIMS, from service.

The petitioner also asked the court to direct the Federal Investigating Agency to investigate the incident, prepare a forensic report and register a case if the investigation establishes criminal responsibility.

The allegations contained in the petition have not been finally decided by the court. The petition seeks judicial scrutiny and action against any person found responsible after due process.

The petition says 14 innocent children lost their lives in the MCH Nursery PIMS in the incident referred to in the court document. It also raises questions about the management of the hospital and the safety arrangements in place before the tragedy.

According to the petition, an earlier fire incident occurred at the Female Nursing Hostel on July 6, 2026. The petitioner claims that a formal inquiry into that incident had already pointed to weaknesses in administration, security, CCTV surveillance, fire and electrical safety and emergency preparedness.

The petition says the inquiry produced a detailed 19 page report and argues that the hospital administration was already aware of serious institutional safety concerns before the later tragedy involving the children.

The petitioner has further asked the court to examine whether the Executive Director had been legally appointed and whether his continuation in the position meets the required standards of qualification, merit, competence and lawful procedure.

The petition states that the Executive Director was initially holding the position on a charge or current charge basis and later continued in the executive position. It asks the court to examine the circumstances surrounding his appointment and continuation.

The petitioner also raised questions about administrative responsibility for safety failures at one of the country’s major public hospitals. The petition argues that public hospitals have a special duty to protect patients, attendants, doctors, nurses and other people using their facilities.

It says poor and vulnerable citizens who depend on government hospitals should receive the same protection of life and safety as people who can afford private healthcare.

The petition also points to constitutional protection of the right to life and asks the court to consider whether public authorities responsible for healthcare institutions took reasonable and effective steps to protect human life.

One of the most serious requests made in the petition is for an independent investigation into the deaths. The petitioner has asked that the investigating agency secure and examine relevant evidence, including CCTV footage, security records, duty rosters, access control information, official correspondence, incident reports and other relevant material.

The petition further asks that investigators examine whether any criminal act, negligence, conspiracy, concealment, destruction of evidence or withholding of evidence took place. It says that if the investigation finds a criminal offence, proceedings should be started against every person found involved, regardless of office or position.

The petitioner also requested that any officer found responsible for serious negligence or misconduct be proceeded against under the applicable law and service rules.

The document argues that no public official should be considered beyond accountability because of administrative influence or position. It asks the court to determine whether the relevant authorities acted fairly and independently in dealing with the incidents.

Another major point raised in the petition is the continued presence of senior officials despite what the petitioner describes as serious institutional failures. The petitioner argues that continued exercise of executive authority without an independent determination of responsibility could damage public confidence in a major federal healthcare institution.

The petition asks the Islamabad High Court to order a review of appointments to sensitive executive and administrative positions at PIMS where their legality, qualifications, merit or continuation has been questioned by the record.

The document also asks the court to consider the wider safety system of public hospitals. It says hospitals should have effective arrangements for fire prevention, electrical safety, emergency response, evacuation, CCTV, security, visitor control and maintenance.

The petition has been filed under Article 199 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The respondents named in the petition include the Federation of Pakistan through the Secretary Establishment, the Ministry of National Health Services, the Executive Director PIMS, the Principal Nursing Staff PIMS, the Chairman Capital Development Authority and the Director General Federal Investigating Agency.

The petitioner has also asked for any other relief the court considers appropriate, particularly measures aimed at protecting human lives and improving safety, governance and accountability in public healthcare institutions.

The matter is now before the Islamabad High Court, where the allegations and requests contained in the petition would be subject to judicial consideration.