PIMS tragedy: Kamal presents himself for accountability

ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Friday that he was ready to face accountability in the wake of the deaths of 14 infants at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), saying the entire system was “rotten. ” “I hold myself responsible—I have presented myself for accountability, ” he said, speaking at the Senate session. “There can be no explanation for this, ” he said, referring to deaths of 14 new born children due to the sudden eruption of fire in a gynaecology ward of PIMS in the federal capital, earlier on Wednesday. READ MORE: ‘Black smoke’ chokes maternity ward as PIMS fire kills 14 infants Kamal was speaking on a calling attention notice moved by Sherry Rehman and other Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senators regarding the “tragic incident” involving these deaths. The minister faced strong criticism and protest from the opposition over the fire incident. He assured the House on behalf of the government that anyone found involved in this incident “would not be spared. ” “This system is rotten—the biggest problem is; from where do I bring a good person after replacing a bad person—you have to decide between two bad persons who to choose, ” he said. “Everybody wants to have their swindlers appointed at the helm, ” Kamal said. The minister said that the report into the fire incident would be ready by Friday night. Speaking on the calling attention notice, Sherry Rehman said her concerns regarding PIMS were rooted in her own experience as a former health minister. “I served as Health Minister for six months. I was also given reasons to close the emergency gates but I did not. Instead, I posted guards there and checked myself. Why incompetent people who don’t care about basic safety protocols even are allowed to continue? ” she said. Senator Rehman further added, “I have personally received treatment at PIMS, as did my husband, even when I was a minister. There were still irregularities during our treatment. So imagine what ordinary citizens must go through. ” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Parliamentary Leader in Senate Ali Zafar demanded the establishment of a Senate committee under the opposition’s leadership to investigate the PIMS fire incident. Stern action should be taken against the persons found responsible for the fire incident, he demanded. Pervaiz Rashid from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) said the PIMS fire incident is a “very big tragedy. ” “Everyday we face a new tragedy, we cry over it and move on, ” he said. Rashid demanded that elites be banned from receiving medical treatment at private hospitals. “A law needs to be passed- that everyone be treated at government hospitals—whether senators, judges or bureaucrats. ” The Senate session has been prorogued. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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