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PIMS tragedy investigations have entered a critical phase as an independent inquiry committee reviews CCTV footage, staff statements and emergency response records following the deaths of 14 newborn babies in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
Federal Minister for Law and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar has said an interim inquiry report is expected within the stipulated timeframe, after which several important aspects of the incident are likely to become clearer. He stressed that determining responsibility is now a key priority.
Inquiry committee reviews key evidence
The investigation follows the devastating fire that broke out in the neonatal facility of PIMS on August 26, resulting in the deaths of 14 newborns. Official reports confirm that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a high-level inquiry and directed authorities to establish the circumstances behind the incident.
The committee, headed by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, has been tasked with determining the immediate cause of the fire, establishing a timeline and examining the actions taken by hospital staff and emergency services.
Its mandate also includes assessing fire-safety arrangements, emergency procedures and the evacuation process for vulnerable newborn patients.
CCTV footage and staff statements examined
According to details provided to the media, investigators have taken custody of CCTV recordings from the nursery and begun reviewing footage from the time of the incident.
Staff members who were present in the nursery have also been questioned, while written statements have been sought from relevant personnel. The duty roster of employees working during the incident has been submitted to investigators.
The committee is also comparing available video evidence with the hospital administration’s account of how the fire started and how the emergency unfolded.
The inquiry is expected to establish whether existing safety procedures were followed and whether any administrative or operational shortcomings contributed to the loss of life.
Questions over emergency response
One of the most important issues under examination is the response time and the procedure used to evacuate newborns who were dependent on oxygen.
Tarar said these are technical matters that require careful examination of the evidence rather than premature conclusions.
The official inquiry committee has specifically been directed to assess emergency response and rescue operations involving hospital personnel, the fire brigade and Rescue 1122. It will also review whether emergency standard operating procedures for transferring high-risk newborns were properly implemented.
Initial statements from government officials have pointed to possible electrical or air-conditioning equipment failure as a cause, but investigators have yet to establish a final cause.
Government seeks accountability
The federal government has repeatedly emphasized that those responsible for negligence, if established, will face action.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the deaths as an irreparable loss and ordered a detailed investigation, while President Asif Ali Zardari also called for those responsible to be identified and dealt with according to law.
The National Assembly’s Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights has separately called for a transparent and comprehensive investigation, including scrutiny of hospital safety systems, emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures.
What the interim report could reveal
The interim report is expected to provide an initial assessment of what happened before, during and immediately after the fire.
The committee is examining evidence from multiple sources, including CCTV recordings, staff statements, duty rosters and reports from emergency responders. The official terms of reference require an interim report within 48 hours, while a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations is due within five days.
For the bereaved families, however, the investigation goes beyond establishing a sequence of events. Parents have called for accountability and answers over how their newborn children died inside a major public hospital.
The final findings will be closely watched as authorities seek to determine whether the tragedy resulted from an unforeseen technical failure, weaknesses in safety arrangements, shortcomings in emergency response, or a combination of factors.
Until the inquiry is completed, officials have urged caution against drawing definitive conclusions. The investigation is expected to determine responsibility based on evidence and establish what measures are required to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.See More on Pulse Pakistan
