ISLAMABAD – A constitutional petition has been filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the tragic incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26.
Advocate Qasim Iqbal Jalali filed the petition in his personal capacity, requesting that the judicial commission be headed by a judge of the Islamabad High Court or the West Sessions Judge. The move comes amid growing public concern over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Petition Demands Forensic Probe and Fire Alarm Audit
The petitioner has requested the court to direct a forensic investigation into the incident. Additionally, the petition calls for a comprehensive audit of the hospital’s fire alarm system to determine whether safety protocols were adequately maintained.
The federal government, secretary interior, secretary health, chief commissioner, and inspector general of Islamabad have all been named as respondents in the petition.
Conflict of Interest Allegations Against Government Committee
Advocate Jalali expressed a clear lack of confidence in the fact-finding committee formed by the government. He argued that the officials serving on that committee could not impartially investigate the matter due to a direct conflict of interest.
The petition emphasizes a fundamental principle of justice: no person can investigate and adjudicate their own matter. This legal doctrine forms the core of the petitioner’s argument against the government’s internal inquiry mechanism.
Furthermore, the petition states that the public has expressed widespread distrust of the government-formed committee. In a specific allegation, the petitioner claimed that the director general of emergency services could himself be among those responsible for the incident, making his presence on the inquiry committee a clear conflict of interest.
Call for Independent Judicial Oversight
The petition seeks to replace the existing inquiry mechanism with an independent judicial commission. This move reflects broader concerns about transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the PIMS tragedy.
The Islamabad High Court is expected to take up the petition in the coming days. Legal experts suggest that the court’s decision on this matter could set an important precedent for how similar incidents are investigated in the future.
The August 26 incident at PIMS has raised serious questions about hospital safety standards and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s public healthcare facilities.
