ISLAMABAD : Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has sparked fresh controversy by refusing to directly address whether he submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister following the deadly PIMS Hospital fire, while asserting that operating hospitals is not the responsibility of his ministry.
In an appearance on a private television show, Kamal was pressed about the tragic nursery fire that claimed 14 newborn lives. When asked about sending his resignation to the Prime Minister, the minister avoided a direct reply and instead shifted focus to the administrative structure of healthcare facilities.
“Let me clarify that running hospitals is not the job of the Health Ministry,” Kamal stated. He elaborated that the administration of hospitals falls under the purview of hospital management, not the federal health secretariat. He further questioned the political motives behind the criticism, asking, “Please tell me whether Mustafa Kamal has been in power for the last 35, 40 years?”—a remark seemingly deflecting long-standing systemic failures onto previous administrations.
The minister did not hold back his frustration with opposition parties and critics who have been vocal about the PIMS tragedy. “I tell those who do politics to stop playing dramas,” he declared. “I don’t care about political affiliation, but I am often stunned by the intelligence of those who criticize.”
His comments come days after the PIMS fire, which has drawn nationwide outrage and calls for accountability. While the government has announced Rs 5 million compensation for each victim’s family and suspended the hospital secretary, opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have demanded further action and a transparent investigation.
Kamal’s remarks are likely to intensify political heat, as critics accuse the government of deflecting responsibility rather than addressing systemic safety failures in public hospitals. Meanwhile, investigations into the PIMS incident are ongoing, with hospital staff being questioned over the lack of fire safety measures.
