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At around 4:30 pm, almost 10 hours after the fire that killed 14 infants, the entrance to the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (Pims) remained crowded. Eyewitnesses and relatives of victims had been hushed away hours ago, and the families left when the bodies were handed over. But there was an army of reporters and a line of cameramen set up in a neat row, waiting to see if anyone would show up. Everyone felt there was more to the story.
The Mother Children Hospital (MCH) ward, situated at the western end of the healthcare facility, was sealed soon after the fire was reported. The main entrance at the north was also cordoned off with yellow tape, which has since been knocked down by the rush of people.
To ensure the ward remained sealed, several policemen were posted at the gate, in addition to the hospital guards inside, apparently to ensure no daredevil reporter or cameraman was able to get inside. A bag of riot control gear, batons included, lay outside the entrance. For some strange reason, officials from the Punjab Highway Police prowled around the scene.
A woman carrying a sick child was arguing with the policemen at the gate when I arrived. She held up the child and pleaded for several minutes until the guard inside finally relented and opened the gate just enough to let her in. As if on cue, a few reporters darted forward, but the door was swung shut again before they could get to it.
