Mustafa Kamal Faces Backlash Over Response to Parents After PIMS Fire

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal is facing backlash over remarks perceived as dismissive of grieving parents following the deaths of 14 newborns in the PIMS fire. His comments have intensified calls for accountability and a transparent investigation into the hospital’s emergency response and safety failures.

By News Desk
By News Desk
mustafa kamal

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal is facing mounting criticism over his response to grieving parents following the devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where at least 14 newborns were killed.

The tragedy occurred early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Health ward at PIMS. According to officials, 15 infants were present in the nursery when the fire broke out, with only one baby rescued. The blaze was initially attributed to a fault or explosion involving an air-conditioning unit, while the presence of oxygen in the ward reportedly accelerated the spread of the flames.

Parents Question Emergency Response

The deaths have triggered anger among families, with several parents alleging that access to the nursery was restricted, doors were locked and there was inadequate staff presence when the fire erupted.

Some grieving parents also disputed official accounts of the emergency response, claiming that they were left to help themselves while attempting to reach their children. One father told reporters that he lost his three-day-old daughter and alleged that authorities and rescue teams arrived hours after the fire began.

The conflicting accounts have intensified questions over fire safety arrangements, emergency exits and the preparedness of one of Islamabad’s largest public hospitals.

Kamal’s Remarks Draw Anger

Kamal has come under particular criticism after defending the controlled access to the ward. He said the gate had been secured after previous incidents involving the theft of newborns from PIMS and maintained that preliminary information suggested the restricted gate did not create a problem during the evacuation.

The minister also said hundreds of people were evacuated from the affected area and that staff responded within minutes of the fire breaking out.

His remarks, however, have been met with anger from families and critics who say the immediate concern should have been the safety of newborns and accountability for any failures that contributed to their deaths.

During a media interaction at the hospital, Kamal also faced a confrontation with a grieving individual who questioned when action would be taken against those responsible. The man said he had lost his daughter and claimed that families had been forced to wait outside while trying to get help.

Minister Offers Himself for Accountability

Amid growing criticism, Kamal said accountability should begin with him and pledged that anyone found responsible for negligence would not be protected.

“Accountability should start with me,” he said during an interview, adding that no one under his authority would be spared if the inquiry established negligence or wrongdoing.

He said a high-powered inquiry committee had been formed to determine the cause of the fire and establish responsibility.

Kamal also acknowledged significant infrastructure challenges at PIMS, saying the hospital was built in 1984 when Islamabad’s population was far smaller. He said the hospital now receives thousands of patients each day and that its existing infrastructure is struggling to cope with the enormous increase in demand.

Calls for Resignation and Accountability

The minister’s response has failed to calm criticism. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman called for Kamal’s resignation, arguing that the Health Ministry must answer for the deaths and questioning reports that the emergency door was locked.

Political leaders, journalists and civil society voices have also demanded a thorough and independent investigation, with some describing the incident as a consequence of serious institutional negligence.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the tragedy and removed Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri from his position. Multiple inquiries are now examining the cause of the fire, the hospital’s safety arrangements and the emergency response.

As grieving families bury their newborn children, the controversy surrounding Kamal’s remarks has added another layer to a tragedy that has already raised serious questions about safety standards and accountability in Pakistan’s public hospitals.

The inquiry is expected to determine whether shortcomings in infrastructure, emergency access, staffing or fire-safety procedures contributed to the deaths. Until its findings are released, conflicting accounts from officials and families continue to fuel public anger and demands for justice.

Here’s how public reacted

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