The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the failure to register an FIR in connection with the PIMS nursery fire that claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies, reported 24NewsHD TV.
During the committee meeting, Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri questioned SP Zeeshan over the progress on the case and asked what action had been taken following the committee’s earlier directives.
SP Zeeshan told the committee that a daily diary report had been submitted and would be used to determine the nature of the incident.
The committee rejected the explanation, with members questioning the legal status of the report and asking why an FIR had not yet been registered.
The SP maintained that the case could initially be treated under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which provides for an inquiry into certain deaths. He said an FIR would be registered if recommendations were received to that effect.
The committee chairperson strongly objected to describing the incident as accidental, stressing that the tragedy could not simply be treated as an accident without proper investigation.
Committee members also questioned whether forensic examination had been conducted and why an FIR had not been registered to formally set the law into motion.
“FIR is necessary so that the law can come into action,” Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan said during the proceedings.
The chairperson also questioned the handling of other cases, including the death of Hina Zareef, objecting to the classification of a murder case as an honor-killing case and stressing the need for proper legal action.
The committee further raised questions over the role of the concerned authorities and contracts related to the PIMS facility, with the chairperson calling for scrutiny of the tenders.
The chairperson said the matter would have to be taken up with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and expressing frustration over the lack of action, she further remarked, “Then the Army will have to come in. We will have to tell them, for God’s sake, you do something.”
The committee continued to demand concrete action and accountability from the relevant authorities over the PIMS tragedy.
Reporter: Rozina Ali