Finnish Court Convicts Berry Company Executive Of Human Trafficking Thai Workers

A devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has claimed the lives of 15 children, turning a routine morning at the capital’s major public hospital into a scene of panic, grief and anguish. The fire broke out early Wednesday in the Mother and Child Health Ward, where critically ill newborns were receiving treatment. Thick smoke rapidly filled parts of the ward, leaving families and hospital staff struggling to reach the affected area. The tragedy has raised serious questions about fire safety, emergency response, hospital security and the availability of adequate facilities for vulnerable newborns. Among the grieving parents was a mother who could not hold back her anguish after losing her infant. “Give me my child back,” she cried, as families gathered outside the hospital waiting for information about their children. Witnesses described a chaotic situation inside the hospital, with heavy smoke making it difficult to move through the affected area. Some patients and attendants reportedly attempted to escape through windows after finding access points blocked. A witness said the fire spread rapidly and that babies as young as a day old were present in the ward. Another witness claimed rescue personnel took considerable time to reach the affected section, while hospital security allegedly restricted the movement of people trying to leave. However, Islamabad’s senior administration gave a different account of the emergency response. Officials said the emergency call was received shortly before 7am and that rescue and police teams reached the hospital promptly. The fire was subsequently brought under control. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. PIMS officials said the preliminary cause of the fire appeared to be an electrical fault involving an air conditioner. Authorities are expected to examine the equipment, wiring, hospital safety systems and emergency procedures to determine how the fire started and why it spread so quickly. The deaths have caused widespread grief across the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow over the loss of the infants and called for a detailed examination of the circumstances that led to the tragedy. The prime minister directed that those responsible for any negligence be identified and that strict action be taken on the basis of the investigation. The incident has also brought renewed attention to safety standards at public hospitals. PIMS is one of Islamabad’s largest healthcare institutions and caters to a large number of patients from the capital and surrounding areas. Families and witnesses have raised questions about the availability of emergency exits, fire-fighting equipment, evacuation procedures and the preparedness of hospital staff to deal with fires in specialised wards. The presence of newborns in critical care areas makes emergency preparedness particularly important. Infants requiring intensive medical support cannot be evacuated in the same manner as ordinary patients, increasing the need for specialised fire-safety plans and trained personnel. The tragedy has also sparked anger over whether existing safety warnings and shortcomings at public hospitals were adequately addressed before the incident. For the bereaved families, however, the immediate concern is the loss of their children. Parents gathered outside PIMS in distress as they waited for confirmation and the return of their babies. The fire is among the most serious recent incidents involving a public healthcare facility in Pakistan and has intensified calls for stronger enforcement of fire-safety regulations in hospitals and other major public buildings.

Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) has issued two separate notifications regarding the retirement and subsequent contractual appointment of Professor Dr Nighat Shah, daughter of former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. According to the university’s notifications, Dr Nighat Shah retired from government service on August 12, 2026, but was allowed to continue working at the university as a Professor of Gynaecology (BPS-21) for another three years on a contractual basis. The two notifications were issued separately. One formally announced her retirement, while the other approved her immediate appointment on a three-year contract following her retirement. According to the retirement notification issued by JSMU Registrar Dr Azam Khan, Dr Nighat Shah, who was serving as Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in BPS-21 as well as Pro-Vice Chancellor, retired from government service with effect from the afternoon of August 12. The notification also referred to an earlier order dated October 6, 2025, under which she had been appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university. Her tenure as Pro-Vice Chancellor was linked to her period of government service and was therefore due to end upon her retirement. However, a separate notification issued by the university states that, following a decision by the Sindh government and approval from the competent authority, the Syndicate, Dr Nighat Shah was permitted to continue her services at JSMU as Professor of Gynaecology for three years on a contractual basis. The new contract will take effect from August 13, 2026, just one day after her retirement from government service. The arrangement means that, according to the university’s own notifications, Dr Nighat Shah formally retired from government employment on August 12 but resumed her professional duties at the same institution without any break from August 13 under a three-year contractual appointment. The development has drawn attention because of the timing of the two notifications, with the retirement order followed immediately by the contractual appointment. Dr Nighat Shah was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor of JSMU in October 2025. Her new contractual role, however, is specifically as Professor of Gynaecology rather than as Pro-Vice Chancellor. The three-year contract will allow her to continue teaching and providing academic and professional services at the university until the completion of the approved contractual period, subject to the terms and conditions of her appointment.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has summoned Metropolitan Corporation Lahore’s Metropolitan Officer (Regulation), Jawad-ul-Hassan, to appear in person before the committee on September 1. The summons were issued on the direction of committee chairman Afzal Khokhar after the officer failed to attend an earlier committee meeting despite being served a notice. According to the National Assembly Secretariat, Jawad-ul-Hassan has been directed to appear at 2pm on September 1 in the Constitution Room of Parliament House, Islamabad. The committee took notice of his absence from its August 12 meeting and decided that his personal appearance should be ensured at the next proceedings. The summons were issued under Rule 227(3) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The provision allows the committee to take steps to secure attendance when required in connection with parliamentary proceedings. The official notice also warned that failure to comply could lead to further action under the powers available to the committee. These powers include authority similar to that of a civil court for enforcing attendance and requiring the production of relevant documents. To ensure that the summons are properly served and implemented, the National Assembly Secretariat has sought assistance from the Punjab chief secretary. The inspector general of police Punjab has also been asked to provide necessary assistance, within the law, to facilitate the officer’s attendance before the parliamentary committee. Meanwhile, the chief officer of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore has been directed to ensure that Jawad-ul-Hassan is informed about the summons and appears before the committee personally. The latest development represents an escalation following the officer’s earlier failure to attend the proceedings. The committee is now seeking his direct appearance rather than allowing the matter to proceed in his absence. The September 1 hearing is expected to provide the committee an opportunity to question the officer directly and examine the circumstances surrounding his previous non-appearance.