Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the suspension of eight officials, including the executive director (ED) of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), and directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against them over a fire at the hospital that claimed the lives of 14 infants.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier took the decision on the recommendations of the inquiry committee, whose interim report was presented at a high-level meeting chaired by him in Lahore.
The eight individuals are namely Pims ED Dr Rana Imran Sikander, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Chaudhry Awais Ali Shah, head of neonatal department Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, senior registrar Dr Nagham, Dr Naushila Amjad, Pims Security Assistant Director Mohammad Usman, and Dr Abdulrehman, the director general of the Emergency Services of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The prime minister specifically directed that those identified by the inquiry committee face not only departmental action but also criminal proceedings under the relevant laws, the PMO said.
He also ordered that criminal proceedings be initiated against those responsible without discrimination and approved action against the company tasked with providing security at the hospital and its officials.
