ISLAMABAD: Separate petitions have been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking an investigation into the PIMS hospital fire that reportedly killed 14 infants, removal of the hospital’s executive director and enforcement of fire safety regulations across the capital.
One petition seeks an inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to determine responsibility for the incident and asks the court to secure CCTV footage and other relevant records from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
Petition Seeks FIA Investigation Into PIMS Fire
A citizen, through lawyers Bilal Mughal and Waqar Malik, has made the federal government, Ministry of Health, PIMS Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, FIA and the Capital Development Authority (CDA), among others, respondents.
The petition asks the Islamabad High Court to identify those responsible for the fire and order appropriate action. It also seeks the removal of Dr Rana Imran Sikandar from his post and employment.
Separate Plea Challenges Fire Safety Enforcement
Another constitutional petition has challenged the alleged lack of enforcement of fire safety regulations in Islamabad, including at PIMS.
The petitioner, through lawyer Malik Naveed Ashiq, represented by Afrasiab Ahmed, has alleged that commercial, educational and healthcare buildings in the capital are operating without fire safety clearances.
The petition claims that some buildings lack adequate firefighting equipment, emergency exits and fire alarm systems. It asks the court to direct implementation of the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations 2010.
The petitioner has also sought an immediate fire safety audit of buildings across Islamabad and requested action against buildings operating without the required Fire NOC. The plea further asks authorities to publish an updated list of buildings without fire safety clearance.
Calls for Regular Safety Inspections
The petition proposes linking the registration of educational, healthcare and food-related institutions with fire safety clearance and establishing a regular inspection system for monitoring unsafe or non-compliant buildings.
The respondents include the federal government, CDA chairman, chief commissioner, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, CDA emergency and disaster management and building control directorates, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, Higher Education Commission, Federal Directorate of Education and Islamabad Food Authority.
The petitions place renewed focus on fire safety compliance in public facilities following the deadly PIMS incident.
Also Read : PIMS Says Newborns Died From Smoke and Soot Inhalation, Not Burns
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