The Senate on Friday unanimously approved a resolution moved by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman seeking a special committee to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Rehman said that the tragedy raised serious questions about governance, accountability and public safety and called for those responsible for any failure to be held accountable.
“Wherever there is a failure, there must be accountability,” she said.
The resolution authorised the Senate chairman to constitute the special committee, with its composition and terms of reference to be finalised in consultation with the National Assembly speaker.
Speaking in the Senate, Rehman questioned the circumstances surrounding the emergency gate at PIMS and raised concerns over conflicting accounts about whether it had been closed during the fire.
“I was also given reasons to close the emergency gates, but I did not. Instead, I posted guards there and checked myself,” she said.
She alleged that the PIMS executive director had denied that the emergency gate was closed, while firefighters and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had stated otherwise.
Rehman also pointed to differences between the PIMS report and CDA findings regarding the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements. She said that CDA had repeatedly declared the arrangements inadequate and questioned why corrective action had not been taken.
She further claimed that PIMS did not have a fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC) and questioned why basic safety requirements had not been ensured despite federal funding for the hospital.
The resolution came after 14 newborns died in a fire at the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS on Wednesday. One infant survived.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told the Senate that no one found responsible for negligence would be spared. He said he considered himself responsible as the health minister and supported the formation of a parliamentary committee, including opposition members, to investigate the incident.
“I am the health minister. I consider myself responsible,” Kamal said. “Whoever is found negligent will not be spared; not a single individual will be spared.”
Kamal said a government inquiry committee had already been formed and would submit its report on Friday night. He urged lawmakers to wait for the findings instead of reaching conclusions before the investigation was complete.
He said investigators will examine evidence including digital records, videos and eyewitness accounts, while information was also being collected from the families of the affected children.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly also approved a motion authorising Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, in consultation with Senate Chairman Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani, to form a special parliamentary committee to investigate the incident and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif had already formed an inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan. The committee is expected to submit a detailed report within seven days.
Tarar said that another committee headed by Dr Azhar Kayani had been formed to review the administration of PIMS and recommend measures to improve its healthcare facilities.
The National Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution expressing grief over the deaths and calling for action against those found responsible for negligence or safety lapses. It also urged the government to ensure fire-safety and emergency preparedness measures in federal hospitals, particularly neonatal and paediatric units.
