IHC seeks government response on plea for FIR over PIMS nursery fire deaths

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the federal government and other authorities on a petition seeking registration of an FIR over the deaths of newborns in the PIMS hospital fire and compensation for the affected families.

Fourteen newborns died in the August 26 fire at the Mother and Child Hospital, while another child succumbed to injuries on September 17. No criminal case has so far been registered over the incident.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro also suspended an order by a justice of the peace that had dismissed the petitioner's request for FIR registration.

The court directed authorities to submit the complete record, including the inquiry report, and observed that cases could be ordered against those responsible if negligence was established.

The petitioner, lawyer Riaz Hanif Rahi, told the court that an inquiry had already pointed to negligence and urged it to direct authorities to register a case against those responsible.

The court issued notices to the concerned authorities and adjourned the hearing until November 12.