The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday suspended an order of Punjab Service Tribunal (PST) reinstating a doctor Saeed Ahmad Khan held responsible for death of seven newborns in Services Hospital. A bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad was hearing an appeal of the provincial health secretary. Earlier, a law officer told the bench that an inquiry committee had declared Dr Saeed guilty of showing grave negligence in the incident of infants' deaths during 2012.

He said the doctor was slapped with a punishment of compulsory retirement in the light of an inquiry report. However, he said the tribunal, on an appeal by the doctor, reinstated him to service with a minor penalty of stoppage of one-year increment. Responding to the court's queries, a law officer said Dr Saeed Khan was an overall in charge and due to short-circuit in an air conditioner a fire broke out which resulted in death of seven and injuries to nine newborns.

He said an inquiry by chief minister investigation team had also held the doctor responsible for the incident. He asked the court to set aside the decision of the PST for being unlawful and beyond facts.