Advocate General Punjab Barrister Zafarullah Khan on Thursday said his head hung in shame over the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), which claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies. The remarks came during a hearing at the Islamabad High Court on petitions filed by three inmates of Adiala Jail seeking permission to receive treatment at private hospitals and greater access to their families. Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions.

Advocate General Islamabad Naveed Hayat Malik, Advocate General Punjab Barrister Zafarullah Khan, jail officials and Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez appeared before the court. The court was informed that the three petitioners Owais Altaf, Ilyas Khan and Muhammad Ismail had sought relief similar to that recently granted to former prime minister Imran Khan, following a Supreme Court order regarding his medical examination and treatment at a private hospital.

Counsel for one of the prisoners told the court that the inmate was suffering from a condition similar to thalassemia and had been in jail for six months. He requested that the prisoner be shifted to a private hospital and provided with appropriate medical facilities, warning that jail authorities would be held responsible if adequate treatment was not provided. The counsel also referred to the Supreme Court’s August 18 order and said he was willing to bear the expenses of treatment at a private hospital.

The counsel for prisoner Muhammad Ismail, who appeared via video link, said his client was suffering from a heart condition. He alleged that the jail superintendent had rejected their request for treatment without consulting a doctor. During arguments, Justice Muhammad Asif asked the Advocate General Punjab about the prisoners’ requests. Barrister Zafarullah replied that if the law provided for such treatment, the request would be granted.

He said some of the country’s highest officeholders received treatment at PIMS and noted that the hospital had some of the country’s best doctors. However, Justice Muhammad Asif expressed concern over the recent incident, saying, “Fourteen children have died in one day.” The judge questioned how patients could be expected to seek treatment at a major hospital if it did not have adequate facilities to prevent such incidents. “Preventing such incidents is the responsibility of the government,” the judge remarked.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)