Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Dr. Imran Sikandar, faced harsh questions from journalists during a media briefing following a tragic fire at the hospital’s nursery that claimed the lives of 14 newborns.
When questioned about why the main gate and emergency exits of the children’s ward were locked, the PIMS ED responded that the administration did everything it could during the crisis. “Let the inquiry committee complete its report. At the moment, I am going through trauma,” he added.
Dr. Sikandar was also asked about the fire brigade’s previous advisory to install a fixed fire-extinguishing system and about the empty fire points throughout the facility. He stated that 24 fire cylinders were utilized during the incident, adding, “Government facilities always have fire extinguisher cylinders, not water outlets.”
Regarding the closed emergency exit, he explained that entry to the ward was deliberately restricted due to past incidents of attempted child abductions.
“The ED is not responsible for every act, but is responsible for supervision. I believe I provided the correct supervision, which is why the cylinders were available and people responded,” he remarked.
Although Dr. Sikandar stated that hospital staff were present during the fire, journalists challenged his statement, citing eyewitnesses who reported no staff in the nursery when the fire started.
Furthermore, although the executive director claimed the rescue operation began immediately, reporters cited allegations that it took rescuers more than two hours to reach the children’s ward.
Earlier, Riffat Kareem, the aunt of a rescued infant, challenged the PIMS administration’s account of the rescue, asserting that she personally saved her niece during the fire
She stated that when the fire erupted in the ICU of the gynecology ward at PIMS, a doctor on duty fled the room as soon as the blaze broke out.
Riffat Kareem further shared that her niece was born just yesterday.
She claimed that all paramedical staff on duty ran away after the fire started in the ward, leaving the infants unattended.
