A constitutional petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the alleged non-implementation of fire safety laws in the federal capital. The petition was filed by Malik Naveed Ashiq Awan through his counsel, Advocate Afrasiab Ahmed Rana, following the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26.
The petitioner alleged that even Islamabad’s largest public hospital was operating without a fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC), raising serious questions about compliance with mandatory safety regulations. The petitioner contended that, besides PIMS, several commercial, educational and medical buildings in Islamabad are operating without fire safety NOCs. He further claimed that many buildings lack basic fire safety measures, including firefighting equipment, emergency exits and fire alarms.
The petition asks the court to make registration of educational, medical and food-related institutions conditional on obtaining a fire safety NOC. It also seeks the establishment of a regular inspection system to identify and monitor buildings that are unsafe or operating in violation of fire safety regulations. The petitioner has urged the authorities to immediately seal buildings operating without fire safety NOCs and publish an updated list of such buildings for public awareness.
The petition also seeks an immediate fire safety audit of all buildings in the federal capital and effective implementation of the Islamabad Fire Prevention and Life Safety Regulations, 2010. The Federation, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Higher Education Commission (HEC), Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and Islamabad Food Authority have been named as respondents.
The petition comes days after a tragic fire at PIMS claimed the lives of 14 newborns, including twins, raising serious questions about fire prevention and safety arrangements at the hospital. An initial report by the fire brigade described PIMS’s fire safety arrangements as inadequate and said emergency routes were closed or obstructed. However, the PIMS administration has maintained that all fire safety measures and emergency routes were functional.
Following the incident, a high-level investigation committee was formed on the Prime Minister’s instructions. The committee visited the site, reviewed CCTV footage, examined duty rosters and recorded statements from hospital staff before preparing a preliminary report, which was submitted to the Prime Minister.