PIMS fire: IHC seeks respondents' replies

ISLAMABAD:

The capital's high court on Friday ordered respondents to submit replies within 15 days to the pleas seeking a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)-led investigation into last month's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) tragedy and the dismissal of the hospital's executive director.

A single-member bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar also ordered authorities to submit a report on the incident along with para-wise comments while also enclosing the reports presented regarding the tragedy to the prime minister.

On August 26, fourteen newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital's ward at Islamabad's Pims, whipping up a storm with people and political parties demanding action against those responsible for the tragedy.

Later, some petitioners moved the IHC seeking a judicial inquiry into the conflagration and action against those responsible for this gross negligence.

A written order issued after the hearing stated that, according to the petitioner, Nasir Azim Khan, his own newborn son had died in a fire incident that occurred in September 2025. He stated that a fire incident also occurred at the Pims Female Nursing Hostel on July 6, 2026.

The petitioner sought an independent inquiry against the Pims executive director and the responsible officers. According to the lawyer, the petition seeks an investigation into negligence, dereliction of duty and administrative failure by the officials.

The petition maintained that there is no effective accountability for those holding senior administrative positions. It stated that ensuring safety, fire safety and emergency arrangements in public hospitals is the responsibility of the authorities.

The petition also sought scrutiny, in accordance with the law, of the appointments of the executive director and other officers. It requested that CCTV footage, electronic data, duty records and maintenance records be preserved and that an inquiry be conducted.