The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday heard a petition seeking the removal of the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and a high-level inquiry into the tragic hospital fire that resulted in the deaths of 14 newborn babies. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar presided over the proceedings.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel emphasized the gravity of the incident, describing it as a horrifying tragedy, and urged the court to issue directions to remove the Executive Director from office. In response, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar questioned the legal premise of the request, inquiring how the court could directly issue instructions to remove an official from their post. The counsel argued that despite an annual allocation of PKR 20 to 22 billion, the hospital struggles with basic facilities, noting that multiple infants are routinely placed on a single bed.
Addressing the removal request, the court observed that the government had already suspended officials following the incident, though the counsel pointed out that accountability had not yet been fixed in the initial inquiry. Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez informed the court that the initial findings were preliminary and that a comprehensive inquiry report would be submitted within five days. The IHC adjourned the hearing while directing the federal government to submit the detailed report and its response.
