PIMS scandal: Human Rights Committee orders FIR, seeks inquiry details

ISLAMABAD: Allegations of negligence and mismanagement at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee at Parliament House, with the committee seeking details of an inquiry and questioning the absence of a criminal case.

Minute Mirror obtained footage of two moments from the meeting showing officials appearing before the committee and Chairperson questioning them over the handling of the PIMS incident and the final inquiry report.

In one nine-second clip, three officials are seen seated at the main table, including a woman wearing an orange/mustard outfit, a senior official in a black suit, white shirt and red tie, and an Islamabad Police officer in uniform. Other staff members are visible near the committee room door.

The audio in the clip is unclear, but the visuals show the chairperson questioning officials about the incident.

A second 13-second clip provides clearer audio of the chairperson questioning officials about the final inquiry report.

“My question is, this final report which has been prepared, who took the decisions in it? And who added the rewards? The committee which was formed, who were its members?” the chairperson is heard asking.

According to a source familiar with the proceedings, the exchange became heated after the Ministry of Health informed the committee that no FIR had been registered in connection with the PIMS incident.

During the exchange, the chairperson asked whether the case had been registered. A ministry official replied that no case had been registered.

The chairperson then questioned the implementation of the committee’s directions and demanded details of the inquiry committee and its members.

The PIMS matter, according to sources, relates to a complaint involving alleged negligence and harassment that was brought before the Human Rights Committee. The committee expressed concern over the lack of criminal proceedings and sought clarification regarding the departmental inquiry and its findings.

The committee directed the authorities to register an FIR if the facts establish criminal negligence. It also sought the names of all members of the inquiry committee, their mandate and findings within 24 hours.

Officials were further asked to explain who authorised the final inquiry report and who approved the inclusion of rewards or incentives mentioned in the document.

The committee also discussed concerns regarding Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) monitoring equipment.

During the proceedings, the chairperson alleged that 99 per cent of PEMRA’s monitoring devices were faulty. Senator Khalil Tahir said some executive directors were not responding to calls, while the chairperson asked whether an inquiry had been conducted within 15 days.

The newly appointed Executive Director of PEMRA replied that no inquiry had been conducted. Senator Musarrat Ahsan subsequently questioned whether the concerned officials had the authority to continue working without resolving the issue.

The committee has summoned the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Executive Director PIMS, Chairman PEMRA and Executive Director PEMRA to its next meeting along with the complete relevant record.

The chairperson warned that failure to implement the committee’s directions could result in the matter being taken up with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.