PM Sharif orders criminal action, suspension against eight officials over PIMS fire

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials identified by an inquiry committee over the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and directed that those responsible face both departmental and criminal action.

The prime minister also approved action against the security company responsible for PIMS security and its officials, while ordering the immediate appointment of new officials in place of those removed from their positions.

The development followed the Aug 26 fire in the nursery of PIMS' Maternal and Child Healthcare Ward, where 15 newborns were being treated. Fourteen infants died in the blaze, while others were rescued.

During a high-level meeting on Saturday, the inquiry committee presented its interim report to the prime minister. A CCTV recording of the incident, lasting approximately two minutes, was also shown during the meeting.

The eight officials identified in the interim report include PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, Head of the Neonatal Department Professor Dr Saadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Naghma, Dr Nosheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.

PM Sharif directed that the officials face criminal proceedings under the law in addition to departmental action. 

He also ordered the inquiry committee's interim report to be made public, which was later made public.

The preliminary findings pointed to significant gaps in fire safety and emergency preparedness at PIMS.

The committee found that the hospital had no detailed standard operating procedures or training specifically covering fire or emergency situations. Of PIMS' 13 SOPs, only two subsections referred to fire or emergency situations, according to the briefing.

The inquiry also found that supervisory staff was not on duty when the fire broke out. Two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were present in the ward at the time.

The fire spread through the ward within approximately two minutes, the meeting was told.

One nurse was credited with saving a baby before the fire spread, risking her own life in the process. The prime minister approved the “Sitara-e-Khidmat” for the nurse in recognition of her actions.

The inquiry found that an emergency call was made six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response arrived 15 minutes later.

The ward had no fire alarm or sprinkler system, according to the briefing. The neonatal ward was also found to be in violation of relevant World Health Organization standards.

The committee further reported that no officer had been specifically assigned responsibility for fire-related emergencies at the hospital, with the assistant director given the responsibility as an additional duty.

The meeting was also briefed on the hospital's dilapidated condition and administrative issues.

The report noted that a fire had occurred at the PIMS nursing hostel in July, about a month before the nursery fire, but serious safety measures were not taken afterward.

PM Sharif directed the committee, headed by former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report.

“Those responsible for criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said.

“The people responsible for this incident will be brought to justice,” he added.

The prime minister said the deaths of the newborns had left the entire nation grieving and directed that those responsible receive exemplary punishment to prevent such negligence from separating another mother from her child.

He also expressed condolences to the parents and families of the infants.

Federal ministers, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, inquiry committee Chairman Shahid Khan, committee members Barrister Nabeel Awan and Major General (retd) Khurshid Utra, and other senior officials attended the meeting.