PIMS tragedy exposes negligence: PMML calls for accountability

LAHORE: Leaders of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) have expressed deep grief over the deaths of 14 children in a fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, calling the incident a result of government negligence and poor safety arrangements. They demanded strict action against those responsible for the tragedy.
In a joint statement, President Khalid Masood Sindhu, Secretary General Saifullah Qasuri, Vice Presidents Hafiz Talha Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rauf, Joint Secretary Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, Deputy Secretary General Khalid Naik Gujjar, spokesperson Dr Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, Khidmat-e-Khalq Chairman Chaudhry Shafiq-ur-Rehman Waraich, Muslim Youth League President Tabish Qayyum and Muslim Women League Secretary General Iffat Saeed said the loss of innocent lives was a deeply painful moment for the nation.
They questioned why timely efforts were not made to rescue the children and control the fire. They said merely forming a commission would not compensate the families for their irreparable loss. Those responsible for negligence must be identified and given punishment according to law.
The leaders said the absence of adequate safety arrangements at a major federal hospital raised serious questions about the performance of the authorities. They said if government hospitals in the federal capital lacked basic safety measures, the situation in other parts of the country required urgent attention.
They said every person responsible for negligence must be held accountable. The party’s Islamabad representatives had visited the site and met the bereaved families, they added.
The PMML expressed solidarity with the families and prayed for strength for them to bear the loss.