Islamabad Vigil Mourns 14 Newborns as Probe Into Hospital Fire Begins

A somber candlelight vigil was held in Islamabad on Thursday to mourn 14 newborn babies who died in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The gathering took place as investigators appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the hospital to determine the cause of the blaze.

Civil society activists and grieving families gathered outside the nursery ward, holding placards that read “14 innocent lives lost, one pain, one question, one demand, justice and accountability.” Chants of “We want justice” and “Down with PIMS administration” echoed through the area. The police did not intervene, and the demonstrators dispersed peacefully.

Dr. Marine Mujtaba, a civil society activist, described the loss of “14, 15 little angels who have to leave this earth before a chance was given to them to see the faces of their parents.” Activist Sara Fareed Malik said, “Pakistan is just not safe anymore. Those babies can’t come back. They lost their lives, and those families now have to live with that every single day, so they deserve answers.”

The fire broke out early Wednesday on the third-floor nursery. Hospital officials said the blaze spread rapidly due to the high concentration of oxygen in the room. Two doctors, two nurses, and other staff present could rescue only one of the 15 babies in the nursery. The surviving infant was seen leaving the hospital with his family after the fire.

The investigating committee, led by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, is expected to record statements from hospital staff, witnesses, and families. It must submit urgent recommendations within 48 hours and a comprehensive report within five days. Hospital and district officials initially attributed the fire to an exploding air-conditioning unit, but a preliminary hospital report suggested a nebulizer blast sparked the blaze. The committee will independently determine the cause.

Authorities handed over the bodies of all 14 newborns to their families for burial on Wednesday night. The deaths have prompted broader reviews of fire-safety measures at hospitals across the country. In Punjab, the government ordered an immediate review of fire-safety systems and emergency-response facilities. Prime Minister Sharif also dismissed Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri.

The Pakistani Taliban expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences. UNICEF called for an urgent review and strengthening of fire-prevention standards at health facilities. The incident is among Pakistan’s deadliest recent tragedies involving children; in June, 14 schoolchildren were killed when a roof collapsed at a tutoring center in Lahore.