Islamabad: Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Sherry Rehman, has called for a transparent and independent investigation into the tragic deaths of 14 children in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital. The incident, she asserts, raises critical questions about governance, accountability, and public safety.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Rehman submitted a Calling Attention Notice in the Senate to urge the Federal Minister for Health to address the deaths and the reported inadequacies in basic fire-safety arrangements at PIMS. During her visit to the hospital with senior party colleagues, she emphasized that their intent was not political but to focus on accountability and public interest.

Senator Rehman, drawing from her experience as a former Health Minister, questioned the competence of those managing the hospital's safety protocols. She challenged the Executive Director of PIMS's account of the emergency gate's status during the fire, highlighting discrepancies between the hospital's report and the findings of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which pointed to inadequate fire-safety measures.

In light of the substantial federal funding allocated to PIMS, Senator Rehman questioned the hospital's failure to meet basic safety standards. Official budget figures indicate that PIMS received approximately Rs. 22 billion over the past three years, yet essential fire-safety arrangements reportedly remain insufficient.

Senator Rehman advocated for the establishment of a House committee to investigate the tragedy, expressing a lack of confidence in the existing committee. She stressed the need for the committee to examine institutional failures and accountability and to recommend preventive measures.

Addressing the trauma faced by the families of the deceased children, Senator Rehman criticized the hospital staff's response during the fire and called for a report to be prepared within 40 days to develop a mechanism for better patient management.