Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal reportedly submitted his resignation after the PIMS fire killed 14 newborn babies, but PM Shehbaz Sharif asked him to remain in office until the inquiry concludes.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal reportedly submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within hours of the Aug. 26 fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), but the premier declined to accept it, according to highly informed sources.
The fire at PIMS’ Mother and Child Health Centre killed 14 newborn babies, prompting a government inquiry and action against senior hospital officials.
Sources said Kamal informed the Prime Minister’s Office of his decision shortly after the tragedy and formally submitted his resignation in writing. However, Shehbaz asked him to remain in office until an inquiry committee completed its investigation and determined responsibility for the incident.
The minister was also reportedly advised against making the resignation public while the inquiry was underway.
The reported development comes as the government has already taken action against senior officials following the tragedy. Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghori was removed from his position, while Kamal continued to serve as health minister.
When contacted, Kamal did not respond to messages seeking confirmation about whether he had submitted his resignation or whether the prime minister had declined to accept it.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials associated with the prime minister were also contacted for comment. They said they had no information about any such resignation.
Kamal has continued to publicly support the inquiry and has repeatedly said those responsible would not be spared.
Addressing the Senate, the health minister said the tragedy could not be allowed to remain in the news for only a few days. He also called for accountability and broader reforms in the health sector.
The reported resignation comes after Shehbaz ordered action against senior PIMS officials following the submission of an interim inquiry report.
The prime minister ordered the suspension of eight officials, including the PIMS executive director and senior officials from the Children’s Hospital and Mother and Child Health Centre. Criminal proceedings were also ordered against them.
The interim report identified serious shortcomings in the hospital’s emergency preparedness, finding that the neonatal nursery lacked detailed and adequately practiced procedures for responding to fires and evacuating newborns.
It also recommended further technical and forensic investigations to establish the exact location and cause of the fire.
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