Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
(27 Aug 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Islamabad, Pakistan - 27 August 2026
1.Various of civil society activists protesting outside nursery ward where 14 newborns were killed in a fire, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Punish the culprits”
2. Close tilt of a placard reading (Urdu): “14 innocent lives lost, one pain, one question, one demand, justice and accountability”
3. Close of a protester chanting, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Down with PIMS administration”
4. Various of activists protesting, up sound (English) “We want justice,” (Urdu) “Justice for innocent babies”
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Marine Mujtaba, civil society activist:
“Actually, sadden by those 14, 15 little angels who have to leave this earth before a chance was given to them to see the faces of their parents, for the mothers to hold them, for the fathers to kiss them. They just left this world without names, without an identity.”
6. Various of candlelight vigil
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sara Fareed Malik, activist:
“How can you justify this? Fourteen babies are gone. There was a father who had twins, and they waited for such a long time, and both of those babies are gone. And there was a family who waited five years to have a baby, and that baby is gone. You have to be able to explain yourself. I mean, Pakistan is just not safe anymore. You know, we want justice. Those babies can’t come back. They lost their lives, and those families now have to live with that every single day, so they deserve answers. That’s why we are here.”
8. Various of candlelight vigil
STORYLINE:
A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday at the scene of a devastating hospital fire in Pakistan which killed 14 newborn babies, as investigators appointed by the prime minister arrived at the site to determine the cause of the blaze.
The government is facing pressure from grieving families and the public who are seeking answers about the cause of the fire and the safety measures at a major health facility.
The scene at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was somber as doctors, staff, patients and relatives gathered to mourn the newborns. Access was restricted to the third-floor area where the fire occurred.
During the vigil, members of civil society groups sat on the hospital floor beside rows of flickering candles, their grief and anger reflected in brightly colored, handwritten placards. “Investigators, no more graves for our babies,” one read. A woman fought back tears as some participants chanted, “We want justice,” and demanded accountability. The police did not intervene, and the demonstrators later dispersed peacefully.
“Pakistan is just not safe anymore," said activist Sara Fareed Malik. "We want justice. Those babies can’t come back. They lost their lives, and those families now have to live with that every single day, so they deserve answers. That’s why we are here.”
The fire early on Wednesday at the hospital was confined to a third-floor nursery and did not affect the rest of the building. Hospital officials said the blaze spread so quickly that two doctors, two nurses and other staff present were able to rescue only one baby from among the 15 in the nursery.
Witnesses, including relatives of other patients, said they saw the family of the only baby to survive the fire leave the hospital with him after the blaze broke out.
Officials said authorities handed over the bodies of all 14 newborns to their families for burial Wednesday night. Witnesses saw the families leaving the hospital with them in ambulances which were arranged by the government.
AP video shot by: Muhammad Yousaf
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(27 Aug 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Islamabad, Pakistan - 27 August 2026
1.Various of civil society activists protesting outside nursery ward where 14 newborns were killed in a fire, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Punish the culprits”
2. Close tilt of a placard reading (Urdu): “14 innocent lives lost, one pain, one question, one demand, justice and accountability”
3. Close of a protester chanting, UPSOUND (Urdu): “Down with PIMS administration”
4. Various of activists protesting, up sound (English) “We want justice,” (Urdu) “Justice for innocent babies”
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Marine Mujtaba, civil society activist:
“Actually, sadden by those 14, 15 little angels who have to leave this earth before a chance was given to them to see the faces of their parents, for the mothers to hold them, for the fathers to kiss them. They just left this world without names, without an identity.”
6. Various of candlelight vigil
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sara Fareed Malik, activist:
“How can you justify this? Fourteen babies are gone. There was a father who had twins, and they waited for such a long time, and both of those babies are gone. And there was a family who waited five years to have a baby, and that baby is gone. You have to be able to explain yourself. I mean, Pakistan is just not safe anymore. You know, we want justice. Those babies can’t come back. They lost their lives, and those families now have to live with that every single day, so they deserve answers. That’s why we are here.”
8. Various of candlelight vigil
STORYLINE:
A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday at the scene of a devastating hospital fire in Pakistan which killed 14 newborn babies, as investigators appointed by the prime minister arrived at the site to determine the cause of the blaze.
The government is facing pressure from grieving families and the public who are seeking answers about the cause of the fire and the safety measures at a major health facility.
The scene at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was somber as doctors, staff, patients and relatives gathered to mourn the newborns. Access was restricted to the third-floor area where the fire occurred.
During the vigil, members of civil society groups sat on the hospital floor beside rows of flickering candles, their grief and anger reflected in brightly colored, handwritten placards. “Investigators, no more graves for our babies,” one read. A woman fought back tears as some participants chanted, “We want justice,” and demanded accountability. The police did not intervene, and the demonstrators later dispersed peacefully.
“Pakistan is just not safe anymore," said activist Sara Fareed Malik. "We want justice. Those babies can’t come back. They lost their lives, and those families now have to live with that every single day, so they deserve answers. That’s why we are here.”
The fire early on Wednesday at the hospital was confined to a third-floor nursery and did not affect the rest of the building. Hospital officials said the blaze spread so quickly that two doctors, two nurses and other staff present were able to rescue only one baby from among the 15 in the nursery.
Witnesses, including relatives of other patients, said they saw the family of the only baby to survive the fire leave the hospital with him after the blaze broke out.
Officials said authorities handed over the bodies of all 14 newborns to their families for burial Wednesday night. Witnesses saw the families leaving the hospital with them in ambulances which were arranged by the government.
AP video shot by: Muhammad Yousaf
Find out more about AP Archive: aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: instagram.com/APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e401da6462ec43058b27b432cf78c2a0
