Pakistani celebrities and public figures have taken to social media to mourn the loss of 14 newborn babies in a devastating hospital fire in Islamabad, demanding answers and the fire broke out on August 26 at PIMS’s Mother and Child Health ward 15 newborns in the affected unit, one was rescued and 14 died.
Parents have raised concerns about restricted access to the neonatal unit and the availability of staff during the fire, but these claims remain under investigation.
Among those reacting was influencer Ali Arif, who shared a video defending doctors and medical staff following criticism of the hospital response. He argued that doctors should not automatically be blamed for the tragedy and said medical staff work exhausting shifts while caring for highly vulnerable newborns.
Aiman Khan also reacted emotionally, questioning whether public hospitals have proper maintenance and safety systems. In her message, she argued that the loss of newborn lives should force authorities to seriously examine the condition of hospital equipment and emergency arrangements.
Sabeena Farooq shared an emotional message asking, “Bacha kidhr hain…?” Her post focused on the fact that the victims were babies who had barely begun their lives. She questioned whether the tragedy would eventually disappear from public attention without meaningful accountability.
Anchor Waseem Badami also expressed concern over the incident and questioned whether enough is being done to prevent similar tragedies. His reaction reflected the anger and grief being expressed by many people following the fire.
Nameer Khan shared a message describing the 14 babies as lives that had only just begun. He called for a transparent investigation and accountability, stressing that the families deserve clear answers rather than seeing the tragedy reduced to a number.
Javeria Saud also reacted strongly on social media, questioning the system and expressing frustration over what she described as a lack of responsibility.
Nyla Rajah, while resharing a BBC report about the incident, said the tragedy showed the devastating consequences when institutions fail to protect their most vulnerable patients. She called for stronger systems to ensure that children receive the protection and care they deserve.
Areeba Habib shared an emotional tribute focusing on the mothers who had spent months waiting to welcome their babies. Her message highlighted the personal grief behind the official death toll.
Zhalay Sarhadi also spoke about the infants, stressing that they were not merely statistics but human lives with futures ahead of them. She questioned how many similar tragedies would occur before meaningful action was taken.
Bilal Abbas Khan, Sehar Hashmi, Samar Jafri, Janat Mirza and other public figures also joined the growing wave of grief and concern on social media. Their reactions reflected a wider demand for transparency and accountability after the tragedy.
The public response has now become part of a wider debate over hospital safety and emergency preparedness. Journalists and members of the public have also demanded accountability, while authorities have launched inquiries into the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a high-level inquiry into the deaths and suspended the federal health secretary. The investigation is expected to examine the cause of the fire, the hospital's safety arrangements and whether any negligence or failure occurred.
For the families involved, however, the tragedy is far more than an official investigation. Fourteen newborn lives have been lost, leaving parents demanding answers about how such a disaster could happen in a place where their babies were supposed to be safe.