Fourteen newborn babies are dead after a fire tore through the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The question now is brutally simple: Will anyone take responsibility? Will anyone resign?
Pakistan’s record offers little reason for optimism.
So far, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has removed the federal health secretary. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, however, has not offered his resignation. Instead, he has promised that “nobody will be spared” if found responsible.
But why should responsibility stop with a bureaucrat?
Fourteen babies died inside a government hospital. Their parents entrusted the state with the lives of their newborn children. If fire-safety systems failed, emergency arrangements collapsed or officials ignored warnings, someone must answer, not merely promise an inquiry.
The tragedy may dominate headlines for a few days. Then another crisis will arrive. The poor families who lost their children will be left with grief, while the system will move on. This has happened too many times in Pakistan.
Questions:
The political question is even bigger. Many critics argue that the current political setup does not reflect the popular mandate, alleging that the 2024 elections were manipulated through Form 47. They point to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who won NA-123 Lahore according to the official result, and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, who was elected from Karachi, while noting that allegations of electoral manipulation remain disputed. PTI and other opposition groups have repeatedly challenged several election results.
Journalist Cyril Almeida recently summed up the frustration in a pointed post: “System keeps popularly elected out of office… everyone else can do anything, consequence free…”
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has also repeatedly alleged that the PPP and MQM could not win public support in Karachi but were nevertheless declared winners through the post-poll process. He has similarly claimed that Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz lost their respective Lahore contests despite being declared successful.
PIMS Fire:
Meanwhile, the facts of the PIMS tragedy are devastating.
The fire erupted around 6:38am on Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital, where 15 infants were being treated. PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said a doctor rescued one baby. Kamal said CCTV footage of PIMS fire showed a spark from an air conditioner followed by a fireball. Most infants were on oxygen, which may have intensified the blaze.
Rescue teams reportedly used ladders and broke windows to reach the ward.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said emergency teams arrived within six minutes and rescued 19 people. But grieving families and witnesses disputed the account, saying they waited for assistance and had to break windows themselves. Some also alleged that doors were locked during the fire.
These claims must be investigated independently.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry and removed Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri. Captain (retired) Muhammad Mahmood has been appointed acting health secretary.
But one question remains: Will the inquiry deliver accountability—or simply another report destined to gather dust?
