Unanswered Questions Linger After Deadly Fire at Pakistan Medical Institute

Hours after a devastating fire claimed the lives of 14 infants at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (Pims), a cloud of uncertainty and suspicion hung over the facility, with conflicting accounts and rumors of a cover-up dominating the atmosphere.

By late afternoon, nearly 10 hours after the blaze, the entrance to the gynaecology ward, where the Mother Children Hospital (MCH) ward is located, remained sealed off. Police and hospital guards maintained a tight cordon, preventing access for reporters and onlookers. Eyewitnesses and relatives of the victims, who had gathered earlier, were reportedly hushed away after the bodies were handed over, leaving a throng of journalists and camera crews waiting in vain for official statements.

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They are martyrs.

Whispers of locked doors and questionable timelines circulated among those present. While some speculated the fire originated from a faulty air conditioning system, others pointed to issues with incubators. The exact location of the nursery ward was unclear to many, adding to the general sense of confusion about the events that transpired. Rescue operations, reportedly involving breaking through concrete grills and windows, were carried out by both emergency services and, according to some accounts, by people present at the scene.

A palpable tension filled the air, amplified by the presence of riot control gear and Punjab Highway Police officers. One distraught individual, whose child was sick, argued with guards to gain entry, only to be shut out again as reporters attempted to follow. Another man, screaming for the media to report the "truth of the matter," declared the deceased infants "martyrs."

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God would not forgive them if they didn’t go inside and report the truth of the matter.