Mustafa Kamal sent resignation before PIMS visit, claims Barrister Aqeel Malik

Amid growing pressure on Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to step down over the PIMS fire tragedy, Barrister Aqeel Malik has claimed that the minister had already sent his resignation to the Prime Minister before visiting the hospital.

The claim, made on August 28, adds a new dimension to the political fallout from the incident, which killed 14 infants. Mr. Kamal has been facing demands for his resignation from a National Assembly standing committee on moral grounds.

Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal has responded to the growing calls for his resignation over the deadly PIMS hospital fire, stating that the demand is a “PPP’s agenda.”

This statement marks his first public comment attributing a political motive to the pressure he faces following the tragedy that killed 14 infants.

Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal, facing calls for his resignation over the deadly PIMS hospital fire, has stated that running hospitals is not the job of the health ministry. The comment marks a new development in the minister's response to the tragedy, which killed 14 infants and has led to a formal demand for his resignation from a National Assembly standing committee.

A National Assembly standing committee has formally demanded the resignation of Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal and the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on moral grounds. The demand follows a deadly fire at the Islamabad hospital which reportedly killed 14 infants.

During a visit to PIMS led by committee chairperson Mahesh Kumar Malani, members from the PPP and JUI-F expressed dissatisfaction over conflicting statements from hospital staff regarding the cause of the fire. Mr. Kamal had previously attributed the incident to a spark in an air conditioner, but the committee noted that the source remains unconfirmed, with staff giving varying accounts.

The committee will hold its own meeting on the matter and also review the findings of a separate inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Reports also suggest the Prime Minister has expressed serious concern over Mr. Kamal's handling of the situation.

In a new development, Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal is now reportedly facing calls to step down from his position as Health Minister in the wake of the incident.