Doctors Urge Medico-Legal and Criminal Justice Reforms Following PIMS Scam

ISLAMABAD: As the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Islamabad Zone continues its probe into alleged irregularities involving officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), senior doctors have urged reforms in the criminal justice system and medico-legal departments.

Last month, the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle conducted a trap raid at Pims under the supervision of a judicial magistrate and with approval from the competent authority. An FIA official posed as an injured person and paid marked currency as an advance for a fake medico-legal certificate (MLC), leading to the arrest of three suspects, including a medico-legal officer.

The FIA also recovered records of previously issued fake MLCs and registered an FIR under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

A senior Pims doctor, speaking anonymously, called the incident a matter of concern for the hospital and health ministry and urged reforms to prevent similar cases.

Pims Deputy Director Dr Saifur Rehman, who specialises in forensic medicine and medical jurisprudence, said Pakistan urgently needed reforms in its criminal justice and medico-legal systems. He said junior police officials often handle medico-legal and post-mortem documentation, while such duties in hospitals should be assigned to doctors with postgraduate forensic qualifications.

Dr Saif recommended establishing specialised forensic units within both police departments and hospitals. Citing the US medical examiner system, he said qualified forensic doctors handle investigations and autopsies, helping prevent the loss of crucial information.

He called on Parliament, provincial legislatures and other stakeholders to introduce comprehensive reforms to strengthen the country’s medico-legal and criminal justice systems.