PIMS Inquiry Advances as Panel Records Over 30 Statements
High-level inquiry panel records statements of senior PIMS officials, doctors, nurses and security personnel while examining duty records and inspecting the neonatal nursery and MCH corridors.
ISLAMABAD: The high-level inquiry into the PIMS nursery incident has entered a crucial phase, with investigators recording more than 30 individual statements, examining staff attendance records and carrying out a detailed inspection of the affected neonatal nursery and adjoining areas, according to sources.
Inquiry Committee Briefs Prime Minister
Sources said the high-level inquiry committee briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday on the progress made so far. The panel is expected to submit its interim report to the prime minister on Friday, while its complete findings and actionable recommendations are due within five days.
The timeline is consistent with the federal inquiry’s official terms of reference, which require an interim report within 48 hours and a comprehensive report within five days. The committee, headed by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, has been tasked with establishing the immediate cause and timeline of the incident, examining the emergency response, assessing fire-safety infrastructure and identifying any negligence or responsibility.
PIMS Officials, Doctors and Nurses Questioned
As part of the investigation, sources said the committee has recorded statements from the PIMS Executive Director and Joint Executive Directors. Doctors and nurses who were on duty at the time of the incident have also been questioned.
The inquiry has extended to security arrangements at the Mother and Child Health and Children’s Hospital facilities. Statements of 18 security guards deployed in the relevant areas have been recorded, while investigators have questioned personnel about their duties and the situation at the hospital when the incident occurred. Independent reporting also confirms that more than 30 PIMS employees have so far had their statements recorded and that 18 MCH security guards were among those questioned.
Biometric Records Examined
Sources further said investigators checked biometric attendance records to determine which staff members were present on duty at the relevant time. Duty rosters and other records are also being examined as the committee attempts to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish the response of hospital personnel.
Investigators Inspect Affected Nursery
The committee also physically inspected the neonatal nursery, taking photographs and videos of the affected area as part of its evidence-gathering process. Members additionally examined corridors in both the old and new sections of the Mother and Child Health block.
Inquiry to Examine Emergency Response and Safety
The federal inquiry has a broad mandate extending beyond the immediate cause of the incident. It is required to review the response of hospital staff, the Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122, assess compliance with emergency procedures for evacuating newborns, examine PIMS’ fire-safety infrastructure and determine responsibility for any negligence established during the investigation.
Interim Report Expected Friday
No final determination of responsibility has yet been announced. The committee’s interim report is expected to provide the first formal indication of its findings, while its comprehensive report will contain the completed investigation and recommendations for further action.
