Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal submitted his resignation in writing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within hours following the devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on August 26. The tragic incident at the Mother & Child Health Centre claimed the lives of 14 newborns. Despite the minister’s decision to step down, the prime minister chose not to accept the resignation, requesting that Kamal remain in office until the inquiry into the tragedy was completed.
The minister conveyed his resignation promptly after the fire, but the prime minister advised him to await the findings of the inquiry committee tasked with investigating the causes and assigning responsibility for the disaster. Kamal was also instructed not to publicize his resignation while the investigation was ongoing.
This development is notable as the government acted swiftly against Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, who was removed from his position soon after the incident. Meanwhile, Mustafa Kamal retained his role and later appeared before parliament and the media to reaffirm the government’s commitment to accountability.
Requests for comment from Kamal regarding his resignation and the prime minister’s refusal went unanswered. Similarly, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials close to the prime minister stated they had no knowledge of the resignation.
Publicly, Kamal has expressed full support for the inquiry, emphasizing that those responsible for the tragedy will face consequences. In a Senate address, he stressed that the incident must not be treated as a short-lived episode and called for both accountability and comprehensive reforms in the health sector.
In a significant development, the prime minister has already ordered punitive measures against senior Pims officials following an interim inquiry report. Eight officials, including the executive director of Pims and senior staff from the Children Hospital and Mother & Child Health Centre, have been suspended, with criminal proceedings initiated against them.
The interim report highlighted critical deficiencies in the hospital’s emergency response, noting the absence of a detailed and rehearsed fire and evacuation plan for the neonatal nursery. It also recommended further technical and forensic investigations to determine the exact origin of the fire.
The minister’s attempted resignation adds complexity to the government’s response to the tragedy. While Kamal was ready to resign immediately after the loss of lives, the prime minister preferred to retain him until the inquiry established accountability. Conversely, the health secretary was removed prematurely, reportedly without complete information.
