PESHAWAR: Police have registered a case against the owners, shareholders and construction contractor of a school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony after a roof collapse killed 30 children and a female teacher, according to the first information report (FIR).
The case was registered at Agha Mir Jani Shah Police Station on behalf of the state under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which deals with qatl-bis-sabab, or death caused without the intention to kill.
Police said efforts were under way to arrest the suspects named in the FIR.
FIR Cites Earlier Complaints About Building
The FIR alleges that the school building was constructed using substandard materials. It also describes the structure as dilapidated and unsuitable for use as an educational institution.
According to the report, complaints had previously been made about deteriorating walls and roofs. However, the school management allegedly failed to address the concerns.
The FIR states that the roofs of a nursery classroom on the second floor and rooms on the ground floor collapsed, causing multiple casualties.
It further reports that 52 people were injured in the incident. Rescue workers spent hours pulling children and other victims from the rubble as distraught parents gathered outside the school, seeking information about their loved ones.
The FIR also alleges that children had raised concerns about the building’s condition, but the school owners failed to respond.
School Ownership and Construction Under Scrutiny
According to the FIR, the school stood on a 16-marla plot owned by Waheed and Javed. The land was reportedly acquired on lease in 2024, after which the school building was constructed.
The owners, shareholders and construction contractor have been named in the case as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
School Owner Arrested
The incident sparked widespread grief, with families demanding accountability for the deaths of the children and the teacher.
Police and rescue officials said the roof collapsed on Thursday while classes were in progress. Officials also raised concerns about the quality of the construction materials and the building’s structural integrity.
During an earlier media talk, school owner Khan Muhammad reportedly attributed the collapse to several days of rainfall.
A police investigation officer said the school owner had been arrested over the alleged use of substandard construction materials.
Relatives of the victims have called for a thorough investigation into the incident and accountability for those found responsible.
