PIMS tragedy exposes city hospitals’ safety gaps<\/a><\/p>\nEarlier, speaking in the Senate, Kamal described the incident as deeply distressing, saying, \u201cThere is no more heart-wrenching incident than this. There is no explanation for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the health minister. I hold myself responsible. I presented myself without mincing my words,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He supported the formation of a parliamentary committee but opposed imposing a fixed 40-day deadline. \u201cYou cannot do anything in 40 days. Don\u2019t put a date there. You make the committee and make it open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go to investigate this incident, you will see so many other things connected to it,\u201d Kamal said.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cWhen you go to make this report in 40 days, you will submit it. Till this session goes on, keep the committee going. Why would you make it time-bound?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kamal said he had reviewed extensive information on the health system but had not blamed his predecessors. \u201cI have seen a lot of facts and figures. I have had a lot of responsibilities. I have never spoken of my predecessor, that because of this person or that person this happened,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also placed the PIMS tragedy in the wider context of child and maternal mortality. \u201cI\u2019m not talking of kids who have cancer but I\u2019m talking of kids who could have been saved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the highest number in the world. Every year 11,000 mothers die during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a disease,\u201d Kamal said.<\/p>\n
He called for accountability in cases of preventable incidents. \u201cThese accidents can be prevented if those who are responsible, or those who have responsibility, are actually punished, if there is accountability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey deliberately delay this process so that people forget about it,\u201d Kamal said. \u201cPeople forget that this accident happened, that there was damage, that lives were lost and that there was financial loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Calling the PIMS incident a major tragedy, he said, \u201cThis is a very big tragedy and its responsibility should be fixed, and those who are responsible should be identified.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should come to something within eight to 10 days,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Kamal said Parliament had a broader responsibility beyond legislation. \u201cOur job is not only legislation; our job is also to hold accountable,\u201d he said. \u201cThis accountability should be swift. The biggest thing is that there should be no delay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Referring to previous incidents, including Gul Plaza, he said, \u201cThis and all the incidents that have happened before should not be consigned to history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kamal also called for transparency in the parliamentary inquiry. \u201cI would suggest that the proceedings of this committee should be open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be known to the public what this House, the National Assembly or parliament is doing when it is holding someone accountable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He further proposed allowing lawmakers outside the health committee to participate in its proceedings. \u201cIf a member is not part of the health committee and wants to participate, they should participate,\u201d Kamal said. \u201cAll parties should participate in this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tarar proposes joint parliamentary committee<\/strong><\/p>\nSpeaking in the NA, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar proposed that a special parliamentary committee be constituted under the authority of the Speaker, arguing that the Senate and NA should not conduct separate inquiries into the same incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo committees sitting separately can, at times, mean that you are unable to look at the matter properly,\u201d Tarar said, adding that the Senate had also proposed a special parliamentary committee.<\/p>\n
He appealed to the opposition to participate in the proceedings despite its political differences: \u201cYou have parliamentary oversight; look at that as well and play your role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tarar said he had moved a proposal under the rules for the formation of a special committee before the speaker, which would have the authority to make changes to its composition and terms of reference where necessary.<\/p>\n
The proposal for a special parliamentary committee was unanimously approved. The National Assembly later adjourned its session indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to end its boycott and participate in the committee proceedings, saying parliament should use its platforms collectively to establish accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe children who lost their lives cannot be replaced,\u201d Asif said, adding that those responsible should face the strictest punishment.<\/p>\n
\n