36,931 students await degree attestation, Senate questions HEC

KARACHI: The father of young Karachi resident Mir Raza has expressed confidence in the newly formed investigation team. He said he felt, for the first time in 13 days, that the investigation was moving in the right direction. Mir Raza’s parents, lawyer Jibran Nasir and members of the new investigation team visited locations connected to the case. The visit was aimed at reviewing important points and gathering information that could help investigators understand what happened. Jibran Nasir said the family had identified several important locations on its own. These locations were later shown to the police. He said Mir Raza’s parents were cooperating fully with the investigators and answering their questions. Nasir said the investigation team was waiting for the results of samples collected during the post-mortem examination. He said additional samples obtained after the exhumation had also been sent to a forensic laboratory. The lawyer said the family now believed that an honest and serious officer was handling the investigation. He said the family had earlier faced difficulties in getting the matter investigated properly. Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, said the family still wanted clear answers about his son’s death. He said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident had not yet been established. According to him, the initial investigation should have been more effective. He said timely and proper action at the beginning could have taken the case to a different stage. Mir Hussain said the new investigation team was listening to the family’s concerns. He said investigators were considering the information provided by the parents. The family, he added, now had greater confidence in the process. He said the main objective was to establish what happened to Mir Raza and how the incident took place. The family wanted every aspect of the case to be examined. Mir Hussain said Mir Raza’s kitchen was located around half a kilometre from the site of the incident. He also said information about three suspicious individuals had already been shared with the police. The victim’s father further alleged that the previous investigation team had not properly shared details of the inquiry with the family. He hoped the new team would maintain transparency and investigate the case from all possible angles. The family said it would continue cooperating with investigators. Mir Hussain said they would pursue the case as far as necessary to uncover the truth and obtain justice for Mir Raza. Investigators are now expected to examine forensic evidence, statements and other available information. The reports from the forensic laboratory could also play an important role in determining the circumstances surrounding the case.

KARACHI: Serious shortcomings in fire safety arrangements have been reported at major government hospitals in Karachi following the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where newborns lost their lives. Hospital sources said several major public healthcare facilities in Karachi lack functional fire alarm systems and adequate emergency preparedness, raising concerns about the safety of thousands of patients and healthcare workers. At Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, operated by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), only 13 fire extinguishers are reportedly available across the facility. Sources said hospital staff have also not received regular fire safety training or participated in proper fire drills. The hospital reportedly does not have a fire alarm system or a designated emergency exit route. The situation is particularly concerning because hundreds of patients visit the emergency department every day, while more than 1,000 patients reportedly attend the outpatient department (OPD). Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has two generators, with one reportedly kept as a backup power source. The hospital’s Medical Superintendent said authorities were taking further steps to improve the fire safety system and address existing shortcomings. At Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), fire extinguishers are available in the wards, but hospital sources said several of them are not functional. Sources further said the last fire drill at the hospital was conducted in 2017. The hospital also reportedly lacks an installed fire alarm system. JPMC’s Joint Executive Director said a dedicated firefighting team needs to be established at the hospital. He said each ward has a fire extinguisher, while further training for staff is also required. He added that the hospital administration would write to the Sindh government seeking additional fire safety training for employees. Meanwhile, Civil Hospital Karachi has around 180 fire extinguishers distributed among its wards. However, sources said the overall fire safety arrangements at the hospital also fall short of ideal standards. The revelations have raised concerns about the preparedness of major public hospitals in Karachi to deal with fires and other emergencies. Large government hospitals handle thousands of patients, attendants and healthcare workers every day. In the event of a fire, the absence of functional alarms, clearly marked emergency exits, regular drills and trained response teams could make evacuation difficult and increase the risk to human lives. The situation has come under renewed scrutiny after the PIMS tragedy in Islamabad, prompting calls for immediate inspections of fire safety systems at hospitals across the country. Experts and hospital officials have stressed the need for regular fire drills, functioning extinguishers, alarm systems, emergency exits and trained firefighting teams.

PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan has voiced support for the creation of new provinces, saying administrative reforms are needed to improve governance, but stressed that any such move must be carried out strictly under the Constitution and with broad political consensus. Speaking during a television interview on Thursday, Gohar described the formation of new provinces as a national necessity. However, he emphasized that constitutional requirements must be fulfilled, including securing a two-thirds majority in the relevant provincial assemblies before any proposal could move forward. The PTI chairman also expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completing his full five-year constitutional term, though he did not elaborate on the reasons behind his remarks. The debate over creating new provinces gained momentum after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently argued that Pakistan’s governance system had become ineffective and required major structural reforms, including the establishment of additional administrative units. Naqvi later clarified that his comments reflected concerns about the country’s governance over several decades rather than criticism of the current government. The proposal has drawn mixed political reactions. Murad Ali Shah firmly rejected any suggestion of dividing Sindh, stating that the provincial assembly has repeatedly passed unanimous resolutions opposing such a move. He maintained that any change would require constitutional approval through a two-thirds majority in the concerned assembly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah distanced the government from Naqvi’s remarks, describing them as the minister’s personal opinion. He said any discussion on creating new provinces should take place in parliament and follow the constitutional process. Sanaullah noted that establishing new provinces involves complex constitutional, financial and administrative considerations, including representation in parliament and resource distribution.