ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the suspension of eight officials, including the executive director (ED) of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), and directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against them over a fire at the hospital that claimed the lives of 14 infants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, the premier took the decision on the recommendations of the inquiry committee, whose interim report was presented at a high-level meeting chaired by him in Lahore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The eight individuals are namely Pims ED Dr Rana Imran Sikander, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Chaudhry Awais Ali Shah, head of neonatal department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, senior registrar Dr Nagham, Dr Naushila Amjad, Pims Security Assistant Director Mohammad Usman, and Dr Abdulrehman, the director general of the Emergency Services of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister specifically directed that those identified by the inquiry committee face not only departmental action but also criminal proceedings under the relevant laws, the PMO said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also ordered that criminal proceedings be initiated against those responsible without discrimination and approved action against the company tasked with providing security at the hospital and its officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier further directed that National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammad Salman be appointed acting executive director of Pims. He also ordered the immediate appointment of new officials to replace those removed from their positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister appointed another nurse present in the ward and a female guard as officers on special duty (OSDs) and directed further investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also directed the immediate release of the inquiry committee\u2019s preliminary report, the PMO said, adding that the document would be published on the health ministry\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on the occasion, the premier said those responsible for criminal negligence would not be given any leniency and vowed that those responsible for the incident would be brought to justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe deaths of these innocent children are a heartbreaking tragedy that has left the entire nation grieving. My sympathies, along with those of the entire nation, are with the children\u2019s parents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shehbaz added that those responsible would be given exemplary punishment to ensure that no mother was separated from her child again because of criminal negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inquiry report
The interim report of the inquiry committee was presented at the meeting, which was also shown CCTV footage of the incident lasting approximately two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initial findings showed that Pims had no detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) or training for dealing with fires or other emergency situations. Of the hospital\u2019s 13 SOPs, references to fire or emergency situations were found in only two subsections, the meeting was told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supervisory staff were not on duty when the incident occurred. Two nurses, a female guard and a house officer were present in the ward at the time, according to the briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire broke out and engulfed the entire ward within two minutes. One nurse saved a child\u2019s life before the flames spread through the ward, risking her own safety in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An emergency services call was made six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response arrived 15 minutes later, the meeting was told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting was also informed that a fire had broken out at the Pims nursing hostel in July, a month before the incident, but no serious safety measures were taken at the hospital afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ward had neither a fire alarm nor a sprinkler system, while the neonatal ward was found to be in violation of all relevant World Health Organisation (WHO) rules, according to the briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was also no officer specifically responsible for dealing with fires or other emergencies at the hospital. An assistant director had been assigned the additional responsibility, the meeting was told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting was further briefed on the hospital\u2019s dilapidated condition and mismanagement. The prime minister thanked inquiry committee head Shahid Khan and its members and directed them to complete the investigation and submit a detailed report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal ministers Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, inquiry committee head Shahid Khan, members Barrister Nabeel Awan and Major General (retd) Khursheed Utra, and relevant senior officials attended the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rs1m for nurse who saved child
PM Shehbaz also approved the Sitara-i-Khidmat award and a Rs1 million cash reward for nurse Razia Noreen, who \u201csaved a child without regard for her own life\u201d, the PMO said. Hospital officials said 15 newborns were in the ward when the fire broke out, one of whom was rescued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier paid tribute to the nurse, praising her for saving the child \u201ca few moments before the fire caused destruction\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRazia Noreen has demonstrated an exceptional sense of responsibility and humanity. The entire nation, including myself, is proud of Nurse Razia Noreen for risking her own life to save the child. Such dutiful individuals cannot be praised enough,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ministers visit Pims
Earlier in the day, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry visited the children\u2019s ward at Pims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to the media, he expressed the hope that findings of the inquiry committee would help clarify the circumstances surrounding the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the visit, the ministers met the families who lost their children in the tragedy. Kamal and Chaudhry conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif\u2019s condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families, while also expressing their own heartfelt condolences and deep sorrow over the loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is an extremely tragic and heartbreaking incident that cannot be adequately expressed in words,\u201d Kamal said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have come to share the pain and grief of the affected mothers and stand by them in this difficult time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe pain of a mother losing her child is a tragedy beyond words. There is no substitute for precious human lives, and the children who lost their lives cannot be brought back,\u201d Kamal added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the government and the entire nation stood with the affected families and shared their grief during the difficult time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During their visit to Pims, the ministers reviewed the facilities and arrangements at the children\u2019s ward and received a briefing from the hospital administration on the healthcare services being provided to patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kamal said the government was awaiting the report of the inquiry committee constituted by PM Shehbaz to determine responsibility for the deadly fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet us wait for the report of the prime minister\u2019s inquiry committee,\u201d he said, adding that its findings would help clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministers also reviewed the overall situation at the hospital and discussed measures to improve patient care and hospital management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, they visited an affected family at their home in Rawalpindi, where Kamal presented cheques worth Rs5 million to the two families on behalf of the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis financial assistance can in no way compensate for their loss,\u201d he said, adding that it was only a gesture by the government to stand by the families and share in their responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kamal said a complete and impartial investigation into the incident was under way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStrict action will be taken against those found responsible for this tragic incident,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018There is only one committee\u2019
Kamal, speaking on Geo News programme \u2018Capital Talk\u2019 on Friday, rejected reports that three inquiry committees had been formed to investigate the fire at Pims, saying that only the panel constituted by the prime minister would probe the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is only one committee formed by PM Shehbaz,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said Shahid Khan was heading the committee investigating the incident. \u201cIt has been 24 hours; another 24 hours are left. They have to submit their report by tomorrow evening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever its recommendations are, they must be implemented. Other than that, the entire exercise is useless,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will leave no stone unturned in implementing this committee\u2019s recommendations and orders \u2014 whether an ED is named or anyone else,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked whether he had submitted his handwritten resignation to PM Shehbaz and whether the premier had refused to accept it, Kamal replied: \u201cIf you know this much, why are you asking me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deadly fire at Pims
On Wednesday, 14 babies were killed after a fire erupted at the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre at Pims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a Pims statement, the incident was \u201cinitially caused by a spark inside the nursery at 06:38am\u201d, and within seconds a massive fire erupted due to oxygen points at each incubator. It said two doctors and two nurses on duty responded immediately and called security staff, who tried twice to enter the nursery before a blast occurred and the ceilings collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, witnesses said they waited hours for emergency services and were forced to smash windows to reach the affected ward, while some alleged that doors were locked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hospital and government later disputed claims of delays and locked emergency exits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a high-level inquiry committee to probe the incident and removed federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking in the Senate on Friday, Kamal said the tragedy could not become an \u201cepisode lasting merely a few days\u201d and backed a parliamentary probe into the incident. He called for a wider investigation, saying it would expose a larger \u201crot\u201d in the health sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calling the health system \u201crotten\u201d, Kamal said the Pims deaths should become a basis for reforms to prevent similar tragedies. Responding to calls for his resignation, he said, \u201cLet the investigation be completed. I have already taken action beyond what they are thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution seeking a special committee to investigate the fire, while the National Assembly also called for an impartial inquiry and strict action over negligence or safety lapses. The government has announced Rs5 million compensation for each affected family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tragedy has since sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability, with the National Assembly\u2019s Standing Committee on National Health Services also demanding answers from the Pims administration over possible negligence and safety lapses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the suspension of eight officials, including the executive director (ED) of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), and directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against them over a fire at the hospital that claimed the lives of 14 infants. According to a statement issued by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132157,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n