Islamabad High Court seeks complete inquiry record into the Pims nursery fire and warns of criminal proceedings if negligence is established.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday warned that it could order criminal proceedings against those responsible for the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) if negligence was established, while suspending an order that had dismissed an application seeking registration of a first information report (FIR).
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi, who sought registration of a criminal case over the August 26 incident and compensation for the affected families.
“I will summon all the reports and evidence,” the judge remarked, adding that he would order an FIR against those responsible if negligence came to light.
The court directed authorities to produce the complete record, including the inquiry report, and issued notices to the federal government, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health and Establishment Division.
Notices were also issued to the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, Auditor General, chief commissioner, deputy commissioner, Capital Development Authority, Capital Emergency Services, Pims executive director, Islamabad inspector general of police and Federal Investigation Agency director general.
During the hearing, Rahi told the court that 14 newborns had died after being burnt in the incident, while another child had subsequently succumbed to injuries. He argued that no FIR had been registered despite an inquiry into the tragedy.
The lawyer maintained that the inquiry report had established negligence and urged the court to direct police to register a case before the conclusion of the proceedings. He also claimed that he was the only person who had approached police with an application seeking registration of an FIR.
When Justice Soomro asked whether an inquiry had been conducted, Rahi said its findings had confirmed lapses. He questioned why evidence was being collected when no criminal case had been registered in which it could be presented.
The judge, however, asked the counsel to focus on the legal arguments instead of repeatedly pressing for an immediate order.
The IHC suspended the Justice of Peace’s order dismissing the application for registration of a criminal case. According to Rahi, the application had been rejected because related petitions were already pending before the high court.
During the hearing, the lawyer described the incident as an appalling tragedy, saying, “Even the young of animals in a jungle are not treated like this.”
Justice Soomro directed him to address the legal merits of the petition. The court adjourned further proceedings until November 12.
Background of the Pims fire tragedy
The fire broke out on August 26 in the neonatal nursery on the third floor of the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre at Pims in Islamabad, killing 14 newborn babies.
The blaze was reported at around 6:45am, when 15 newborns were present in the nursery. Only one infant survived. Initial accounts suggested that the fire spread rapidly through oxygen outlets connected to the babies’ incubators, leaving little time for evacuation.
An inquiry committee formed on the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif submitted an interim report identifying serious safety and administrative shortcomings, including inadequate fire-safety arrangements and the reported absence of proper alarm and sprinkler systems in the nursery.
On August 29, the prime minister ordered the suspension of eight officials and directed criminal proceedings against those identified in the report. The Pims executive director was among those facing action.
The government also announced a cash award and a civil honour for nurse Razia Noreen, who rescued the surviving infant.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services subsequently sought records of fire-safety installations, inspections, equipment maintenance, staff training and emergency drills. It also called for third-party safety audits of healthcare facilities in Islamabad.
The latest court proceedings have renewed scrutiny of the tragedy, with the IHC seeking the complete inquiry record to determine whether the available evidence warrants criminal proceedings.
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