IHC gives federation two weeks to respond to Pims fire petitions

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted the Pakistan Medical Federation a two-week window to submit detailed responses to petitions challenging the inquiry into the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). The petitions, filed by Nasir Azeem, Nasir Mujahid, and Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, sought the removal of the institute's executive director.

The additional attorney general, Rashid Hafeez, informed the court that the respondents' replies had not yet been submitted, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry and the pending receipt of orders from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The IHC accepted this request and directed the respondents to submit their para-wise comments by their next hearing, with the proceedings subsequently adjourned for two weeks.

The lethal fire at the Pims Mother and Child Hospital on August 26 resulted in the deaths of 14 newborns, prompting investigations into fire safety and accountability. The inquiry committee, led by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, concluded that "systemic and institutional failure was established," while individual responsibility varied depending on the strength of the evidence.

The committee found that Pims and its senior management bore primary responsibility for the failure to transform known risks and warnings into an effective safety system. The investigation, spanning 52 tasks, examined forensic evidence, CCTV footage, call records, engineering documents, clinical records, witness statements, contracts, and prior inquiries.

The committee emphasized that final culpability should be determined through due process, noting that evidence against all officers was not equally robust.