Mustafa Kamal vows ‘not a single person’ will be spared over PIMS fire incident

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Friday vowed that “not a single person” responsible for the deaths of 14 newborns in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) fire would be spared, calling for swift accountability and an open parliamentary inquiry into the incident.

On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS. Fifteen newborns were in the ward at the time. Fourteen suffered severe burns and later died, while one child survived and was rescued. The deaths have renewed scrutiny of fire-safety measures at healthcare facilities, including the availability of firefighting equipment, emergency exits and hospitals’ preparedness to respond to such emergencies.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA), Kamal said, “The incident is very big and there is no replacement for the innocent lives. There can be no explanation for the deaths of 14 children.”

He said he had worked extensively on the matter, adding, “Whatever I have done, no one can come close to it.”

On the investigation, Kamal said, “Whatever decisions will be made will be based on evidence,” adding, “Whoever is responsible, not a single person will be spared.”

He supported the formation of a joint parliamentary mechanism involving both houses, saying, “A joint committee of the Senate and National Assembly should be formed.”

Kamal also opposed setting a deadline for the parliamentary inquiry. “Do not time-bound the parliamentary committee,” he said.

He broadened the discussion beyond the PIMS incident, saying, “These are not just 14 children. Every year, 400,000 children between the ages of one and five die. While we are talking, 1,300 children will have died.”

The minister said the government would provide information requested by the committee. “Whatever you ask for within 14 months, we are ready to provide and tell you,” he said.

Responding to calls for his resignation, Kamal said, “I have done that work even before they thought of it.”

He also urged opposition lawmakers to participate in the parliamentary process. “My request to the opposition is that you may be angry, that is your place, but come to the committees,” he said. “You have parliamentary oversight. Look at that as well and play your role.”

Kamal argued that separate committees in the Senate and National Assembly could undermine the effectiveness of the inquiry. “There is one Parliament. If two committees sit, many times you cannot look at the matter in the same way,” he said.

He proposed the formation of a special committee and said its composition could be adjusted. “There should be a special committee,” he said. “The Speaker should be given the authority to change its composition.”

Read More: PIMS tragedy exposes city hospitals’ safety gaps

Earlier, speaking in the Senate, Kamal described the incident as deeply distressing, saying, “There is no more heart-wrenching incident than this. There is no explanation for this.”

“I am the health minister. I hold myself responsible. I presented myself without mincing my words,” he said.

He supported the formation of a parliamentary committee but opposed imposing a fixed 40-day deadline. “You cannot do anything in 40 days. Don’t put a date there. You make the committee and make it open,” he said.

“When you go to investigate this incident, you will see so many other things connected to it,” Kamal said.

He added, “When you go to make this report in 40 days, you will submit it. Till this session goes on, keep the committee going. Why would you make it time-bound?”

Kamal said he had reviewed extensive information on the health system but had not blamed his predecessors. “I have seen a lot of facts and figures. I have had a lot of responsibilities. I have never spoken of my predecessor, that because of this person or that person this happened,” he said.

He also placed the PIMS tragedy in the wider context of child and maternal mortality. “I’m not talking of kids who have cancer but I’m talking of kids who could have been saved,” he said.

“We have the highest number in the world. Every year 11,000 mothers die during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a disease,” Kamal said.

He called for accountability in cases of preventable incidents. “These accidents can be prevented if those who are responsible, or those who have responsibility, are actually punished, if there is accountability,” he said.

“They deliberately delay this process so that people forget about it,” Kamal said. “People forget that this accident happened, that there was damage, that lives were lost and that there was financial loss.”

Calling the PIMS incident a major tragedy, he said, “This is a very big tragedy and its responsibility should be fixed, and those who are responsible should be identified.”

“This should come to something within eight to 10 days,” he added.

Kamal said Parliament had a broader responsibility beyond legislation. “Our job is not only legislation; our job is also to hold accountable,” he said. “This accountability should be swift. The biggest thing is that there should be no delay.”

Referring to previous incidents, including Gul Plaza, he said, “This and all the incidents that have happened before should not be consigned to history.”

Kamal also called for transparency in the parliamentary inquiry. “I would suggest that the proceedings of this committee should be open,” he said.

“It should be known to the public what this House, the National Assembly or parliament is doing when it is holding someone accountable,” he added.

He further proposed allowing lawmakers outside the health committee to participate in its proceedings. “If a member is not part of the health committee and wants to participate, they should participate,” Kamal said. “All parties should participate in this.”

Tarar proposes joint parliamentary committee

Speaking in the NA, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar proposed that a special parliamentary committee be constituted under the authority of the Speaker, arguing that the Senate and NA should not conduct separate inquiries into the same incident.

“Two committees sitting separately can, at times, mean that you are unable to look at the matter properly,” Tarar said, adding that the Senate had also proposed a special parliamentary committee.

He appealed to the opposition to participate in the proceedings despite its political differences: “You have parliamentary oversight; look at that as well and play your role.”

Tarar said he had moved a proposal under the rules for the formation of a special committee before the speaker, which would have the authority to make changes to its composition and terms of reference where necessary.

The proposal for a special parliamentary committee was unanimously approved. The National Assembly later adjourned its session indefinitely.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to end its boycott and participate in the committee proceedings, saying parliament should use its platforms collectively to establish accountability.

“The children who lost their lives cannot be replaced,” Asif said, adding that those responsible should face the strictest punishment.

He urged lawmakers to attend the health committee so that parliament could work together to prevent similar incidents in the future, and called for the committee’s proceedings to be kept open.

Rs5m compensation for each family of PIMS fire victims

The federal government on Thursday announced financial compensation of Rs5 million each for the families of newborn babies who died in a fire at the PIMS, PTV News reported.

According to a statement posted on X by PTV News, the government said it “shares the grief and sorrow of the affected families equally”.

“Financial compensation is no substitute for precious human lives,” the statement said.

It added that the deceased children could not be brought back and described the financial assistance as an “attempt to reduce the difficulties of the grieving families and provide some relief in their grief”.

“The government will provide all possible support and assistance to the affected families,” it added.

Fire at PIMS

A fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS. Fifteen newborns were in the ward at the time. Fourteen suffered severe burns and later died, while one child survived and was rescued. The deaths have renewed scrutiny of fire-safety measures at healthcare facilities, including the availability of firefighting equipment, emergency exits and hospitals’ preparedness to respond to such emergencies.

Witnesses described chaotic and harrowing scenes, including intense smoke and broken glass, a slow response from emergency services and guards reportedly preventing them from leaving the ward.

PIMS Spokeswoman Aneeza Jalil told AFP an electrical fault caused the fire, and “fire sparked from the AC”.

Fires in large buildings are frequent in Pakistan, often due to poor safety laws and building codes as well as lax enforcement.

In January, more than 70 people were killed in a shopping centre fire in the port city of Karachi.