IHC seeks detailed report on PIMS tragedy

ISLAMABAD, Aug 31 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought a detailed response from the federal government regarding the report submitted to the Prime Minister and subsequent action taken over the tragic incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), in which 14 children lost their lives.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard a petition filed by lawyer Qasim Iqbal Jalali seeking directions for a judicial inquiry into the incident. During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez and Assistant Attorney General Azmat Bashir Tarar appeared before the court.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that both committees constituted by the government comprised bureaucrats and questioned how officials of the same departments could conduct an inquiry into the incident.

The Chief Justice asked under which law the court could direct a judicial inquiry and where the Inquiry Commission Act empowered the court to issue such directions.

The counsel referred to the incident at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, where a commission had been constituted, to which the Chief Justice observed that the commission had been constituted by the government and not by the court.

The Chief Justice remarked that if an issue arose within the judiciary, he could ask one of the judges to examine it.

The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the Secretary Health had been suspended on the day of the incident, while PIMS officials had now been suspended following the interim inquiry report.

“This is a very horrific incident. Fourteen children have lost their lives,” the Chief Justice remarked.

He further asked the Additional Attorney General whether the court was still barred from passing an order if the government had already initiated action against those responsible.

The court directed the federal government to submit a detailed response, including details of the action taken so far, and adjourned further hearing.