PM suspends health secretary over PIMS fire

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The prime minister expressed strong displeasure at the conduct of relevant officials during a meeting he chaired in Islamabad to review the tragedy.

He also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident and determine responsibility.

Former interior secretary Shahid Khan has been appointed chairman of the inquiry committee, while Secretary Establishment Dr Barrister Nawal Awan is among its members.

The committee will conduct a detailed investigation into the PIMS nursery fire and submit its findings to the government.

The premier has also instructed Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to immediately return to Islamabad from Karachi, visit PIMS, assess the situation, and submit a report on the incident. The health minister is expected to reach Islamabad shortly.

Earlier, Mustafa Kamal called the fire a “tragic incident” and confirmed that an investigation was under way. He verified that 14 newborns had died.

The minister stated that hospital staff were on duty despite the holiday and that the electricity supply was disrupted after the fire broke out. He added that relevant authorities were in contact with the parents of the deceased infants.

He noted that the director general of health and the health secretary were present at PIMS, while the hospital’s executive director remained in direct contact with him.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who visited PIMS, said the fire broke out at around 6:45 a.m. and spread rapidly through the ICU.

He stated that two doctors, two nurses, and paramedical staff were present at the time of the incident. Only one newborn was rescued, and six bodies have since been handed over to their parents.

Chaudhry attributed the fire to a short circuit, though the exact cause will be formally determined by the inquiry. He added that the presence of oxygen and its supply lines contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.

The minister assured that the prime minister has sought a full report and that those found responsible for negligence will be punished.

Inquiry committees

The Islamabad administration has constituted an eight-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Headed by the additional deputy commissioner, the committee has been issued terms of reference and a mandate to submit its report within 24 hours.

It will determine the cause of the fire, examine fire-safety arrangements at the hospital, and assess both the rescue response time and the firefighting operation.

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry added that a separate inquiry committee has been constituted under the supervision of the PIMS vice chancellor.

Fire-safety questions

The tragedy has raised serious questions about fire-safety arrangements at one of Islamabad’s largest public-sector hospitals, particularly given that the affected ward housed critically vulnerable newborns.

Leaders express grief

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the deaths and directed that those responsible be identified and dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. He also called for effective fire-safety measures to be enforced across all hospitals.

Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani called the deaths of the 14 newborns tragic and urged hospitals to adopt effective measures to prevent fires.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed condolences to the bereaved families, describing the incident as deeply distressing.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences to the families, saying the government stood with them in their hour of grief.

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called the deaths an unbearable tragedy for the nation and demanded an impartial investigation. He called for strict accountability for those guilty of negligence and urged the federal government to ensure patient and staff safety across all public hospitals.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari also expressed deep distress over the incident, extending solidarity and praying for strength for the affected families.

The inquiry committees are expected to establish the exact cause of the blaze and determine whether any safety lapses contributed to the loss of life.