A fire at an Islamabad hospital’s maternity ward kills 14 newborn babies, with at least one report putting the death toll at 15. The blaze breaks out on the third floor, and the incident prompts immediate government action and an investigation ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Across outlets, the focus is on the response and accountability measures. Multiple reports say Sharif suspends eight officials and directs criminal proceedings against those found responsible. Al Jazeera adds that an interim inquiry points to deficiencies in fire safety protocols at the hospital, while other reports emphasize that the prime minister calls for a thorough, immediate investigation into the tragedy.
Bloomberg and DW describe the fire as occurring early in the week and highlight Sharif’s order to investigate. Other outlets similarly report Sharif’s instruction to remove a senior health official, aligning with the broader suspension and inquiry steps announced by his office. While the exact death toll varies slightly between reports, the shared facts are the location, the maternity-ward origin of the fire, and the government’s move to suspend officials and pursue criminal accountability.
