Pakistani celebrities demand accountability after PIMS fire kills 14 newborn babies

Pakistani celebrities have called for justice and accountability after 14 newborns were killed in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, with several stars demanding answers over how such a tragedy could occur in a hospital.

Actor Mehwish Hayat wrote on Instagram that she was struggling to process the tragedy, describing the deaths of 14 newborns in a place where they “should have been safest” as deeply disturbing.

“These tragedies cannot simply become another headline. We need answers, accountability and above all, a society where our women, our children and our most vulnerable are safe,” she wrote.

“Every day is a hell!! Newly born babies burnt? Babies raped, babies killed, babies in danger? Women not safe even at home?” she wrote on Instagram.

“Please open your eyes, at least give one of these people justice,” he said.

“I have no words. I don’t know what to say because nobody else’s words are making a difference,” she said, adding that the deaths of children in incidents ranging from killings to kidnappings were affecting how people viewed their surroundings and their mental health.

Screengrab: zaranoorabbas.official/Instagram

Veteran actor Rubina Ashraf described the incident as a “black day” in the country’s history and attributed the deaths to what she called “sheer negligence”.

“A BLACK DAY in the history of our country. 14 newborns burnt to death!!! There is nothing but sheer negligence,” she wrote.

Screengrab: ashrafrubina/Instagram

Actors Sajal Aly and Ayesha Omar also criticised what they described as a “failure of the system” and a “systematic failure”, respectively.

Screengrabs: Sajalaly, ayesha.m.omar/Instagram

Other celebrities, including Ahsan Khan, Samar Jafri, Bilal Abbas, Azeekah Daniel and Sabeena Farooq, also shared messages and videos mourning the deaths and highlighting the grief of the affected families.

Screengrab: Instagram

The tragedy has also prompted wider scrutiny of fire safety at healthcare facilities. The deaths have led authorities in other provinces to review emergency preparedness and fire-safety arrangements at hospitals and other institutions.

For the families who lost their newborns, however, the immediate demand remains for a transparent investigation, accountability and justice for those who died.