IHC warns of FIR against those responsible if negligence found in Pims tragedy

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday warned that it could order criminal proceedings against those responsible for the deaths of 14 newborns in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) fire tragedy if negligence was established, while suspending an order that had rejected a request for registration of an FIR.

“I will summon all the reports and evidence,” Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro remarked while hearing a petition seeking registration of a criminal case over the incident and compensation for the affected families.

“If any negligence comes to light, I will order an FIR against those responsible,” the judge said, directing authorities to produce the complete record, including the inquiry report.

The court issued notices to the federal government, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health and Establishment Division, seeking their responses. Notices were also sent to the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, Auditor General, chief commissioner, deputy commissioner, Capital Development Authority, Capital Emergency Services, Pims executive director, Islamabad inspector general of police and Federal Investigation Agency director general.

The petition was filed by lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi, who told the court that 14 children had died after being burnt in the incident, while another child succumbed to injuries later. He said no FIR had been registered despite an inquiry into the tragedy.

Rahi maintained that the inquiry report had established negligence and urged the court to direct police to register a case before the end of the day’s proceedings. He also said he was the only person to have approached the police with an application seeking registration of an FIR.

When the judge asked whether an inquiry had been conducted, the lawyer replied that its findings had confirmed lapses. He questioned the purpose of collecting evidence when no criminal case had been registered in which it could be presented.

The judge, however, asked the counsel to focus on the legal arguments rather than repeatedly pressing for an immediate order to register the FIR.

The court suspended the Justice of Peace’s order dismissing the application for registration of a case. According to Rahi, the application had been rejected on the grounds that related petitions were already pending before the high court.

During the hearing, the lawyer described the deaths as an appalling tragedy, saying: “Even the young of animals in a jungle are not treated like this.”

Justice Soomro asked him to address the legal merits of the petition. The court adjourned further proceedings until November 12.

The Pims fire tragedy

The incident occurred on August 26, when a fire broke out in the neonatal nursery on the third floor of the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre at the Pims in Islamabad, killing 14 newborn babies.

The fire was reported at around 6:45am. There were 15 newborns in the nursery at the time, and only one survived. Initial accounts suggested that the fire spread rapidly through oxygen outlets connected to the infants’ incubators, leaving little time for evacuation. Firefighters and rescue teams brought the blaze under control.

The tragedy prompted nationwide grief and raised serious questions about fire safety, emergency preparedness and the condition of healthcare facilities at major public hospitals.

An inquiry committee formed on the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif submitted an interim report identifying serious safety and administrative shortcomings. These included inadequate fire-safety arrangements, with proper alarm and sprinkler systems reportedly absent from the nursery. The inquiry also examined the response of hospital staff and rescue teams.

On August 29, the prime minister ordered the suspension of eight officials and directed criminal proceedings against those identified in the report. Pims Executive Director was among those facing action. The government also announced a cash award and a civil honour for nurse Razia Noreen, who rescued the surviving infant.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services subsequently sought further accountability, requesting records of fire-safety installations, inspections, equipment maintenance, staff training and emergency drills. It also called for third-party safety audits of healthcare facilities in Islamabad.

The latest petition has brought the question of criminal accountability back before the courts, with the IHC now seeking the complete inquiry record to determine whether negligence warrants the registration of a criminal case.