PIMS fire: Senate, NA panels demand answers over CCTV footage
The Senate and National Assembly standing committees on health have raised serious concerns about the CCTV footage from the devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Lawmakers questioned whether the available footage showed the complete incident and suggested that parts of the recording may have been edited or missing.
The concerns emerged during separate committee meetings where officials presented details of the fire and the ongoing inquiry.
Lawmakers question CCTV footage
The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, was briefed by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal.
The minister told lawmakers that flames within around two minutes completely engulfed the neonatal nursery. The committee was also shown CCTV footage recorded during the incident.
Senator Nasir Butt questioned the number of staff members who were present when the fire started. He also raised doubts about the authenticity of the recording presented to the committee.
“The CCTV footage appears to have been edited,” Butt said, questioning how the nursery could have been destroyed by fire so quickly.
Committee members also expressed dissatisfaction over the timing of the briefing. They said the inquiry report should have been provided before the meeting so lawmakers could properly examine the findings.
Senator Masroor Ahsan raised questions about previous concerns surrounding the former PIMS executive director. He asked who would be held responsible for the deaths of the 14 newborns.
Ahsan also alleged that the nursery and an adjoining ward had remained closed during the incident. He called for action against the former PIMS executive director and questioned whether all safety procedures had been followed.
National Assembly panel finds gaps in footage
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar, separately examined the PIMS fire.
Mustafa Kamal told the committee that he had personally reviewed the CCTV recording after the incident. He said the entire event appeared to have unfolded in about 120 seconds.
However, the committee chairman questioned why the available footage did not show the inside portion of the neonatal nursery.
The chairman noted that the recording showed a nurse entering the nursery but did not show her leaving the area. He said this raised questions about whether the footage provided to lawmakers was complete.
The committee also criticised the PIMS administration for failing to give a satisfactory explanation about the incident.
According to the chairman, different statements from hospital staff contained contradictions. Lawmakers also said they had not received a clear explanation about what actually caused the fire.
“We want to know the actual facts and why the fire broke out in the nursery,” the chairman said.
Safety arrangements also under scrutiny
The committees did not limit their questions to the CCTV footage. They also examined the safety arrangements inside the neonatal nursery where the newborns died.
Lawmakers questioned why a biomedical engineer was not present in the nursery. They also asked why medical gases were being supplied through cylinders.
The use of portable air-conditioning units in the affected nursery also came under scrutiny. Committee members sought details about whether these arrangements met required safety standards.
The questions are significant because the nursery housed highly vulnerable newborns who required constant medical care and monitoring.
Lawmakers indicated that determining the cause of the fire would not be enough. They also want authorities to establish whether safety systems, staff responsibilities and emergency procedures were properly maintained.
The committees are expected to seek further details as the inquiry continues. Their concerns could add pressure on hospital authorities to provide a clearer account of what happened inside the nursery.
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Officers suspended after inquiry
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier ordered the suspension of officials held responsible following an inquiry into the PIMS fire.
Those suspended included PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Shah, and Neonatal Department head Professor Dr Saadia Riaz.
Senior Registrar Dr Naghma and Dr Noshila Amjad were also suspended. PIMS Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman were among the other officials facing suspension.
The action came after the deaths of 14 newborns turned the incident into a major public concern.
The latest committee proceedings, however, show that several questions remain unanswered. Lawmakers want authorities to establish the exact cause of the fire, determine responsibility and explain why the available CCTV footage does not provide a complete picture.
