ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The only surviving infant from the tragic incident at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where 14 babies lost their lives, has passed away.
The infant, Ezel, was rescued by a nurse during the fire at PIMS Hospital and was later shifted to the ICU for treatment.
According to Ezel’s mother, Asifa Bibi, the six-month-and-10-day-old baby was affected by smoke during the incident and had been receiving treatment in the ICU.
Speaking to Geo News, Asifa Bibi said Ezel was the couple’s first child and expressed deep grief over her death.
Ezel’s death adds to the tragedy at PIMS, where 14 infants reportedly lost their lives in the incident.
PM suspends eight officials over PIMS tragedy, orders action under criminal law
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials, including the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), and action under criminal law following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the hospital’s gynaecology ward on Wednesday.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister in Lahore, where the inquiry committee’s interim report on the PIMS fire tragedy was presented, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
According to the statement, the eight officials include PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, Head of the Neonatal Department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Nagham, Dr Naushila Amjad, Assistant Director Security PIMS Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Service Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.
The prime minister directed that action be taken against those found responsible not only under departmental rules but also under criminal law.
Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was directed to be appointed as acting executive director of PIMS.
He also ordered action against the security company deployed at the hospital and its officials. He directed that the officials removed from their posts be replaced immediately and in one go by new appointees.
Prime Minister Shehbaz approved the award of Sitara-i-Khidmat to the nurse who risked her life to rescue a newborn during the fire.
He also directed that the nurse and a female security guard who were present in the ward be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) and that further investigation be conducted.
He further directed that the interim inquiry report be made public immediately and uploaded to the Ministry of National Health Services’ website.
“People who are guilty of criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“People who are guilty of criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said, adding that those responsible would be brought to justice.
He said the deaths of innocent newborns were a tragic incident that had saddened the entire nation and expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.
“The responsible persons will be given exemplary punishment so that no one’s life is separated from their mother due to someone’s criminal negligence again,” he said.
