Petition filed in IHC seeking judicial commission to probe PIMS tragedy

Advocate Qasim Iqbal Jalali filed the petition in his personal capacity, requesting the formation of a judicial commission comprising a judge of the Islamabad High Court or the West Sessions Judge., a tragic incident took place at PIMS on August 26.

The petition seeks directions for a forensic investigation into the incident and a comprehensive audit of the hospital’s fire alarm system. The federal government, secretary interior, secretary health, chief commissioner and inspector general of Islamabad have been made respondents in the petition.

The petitioner also expressed a lack of confidence in the fact-finding committee formed by the government, arguing that the officials serving on the committee could not be part of the investigation due to a conflict of interest.

The petition maintains that a fundamental requirement of justice and a legal principle is that no person can investigate and adjudicate their own matter. It further states that the public has expressed widespread distrust of the government-formed committee.

The petitioner alleged 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.