Peshawar School Roof Collapse: Police Register Case Against Owners and Contractor
Police have registered a case against the owners, shareholders and construction contractor of a school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony following a roof collapse that killed 30 children and a female teacher and injured 52 others.
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, which relates to death caused without the intention to kill. Police said action was being taken against the suspects named in the case.
The FIR alleges that substandard construction materials were used in the school building, which was reportedly in a deteriorated condition and unsuitable for educational activities. It further states that concerns had previously been raised about the condition of the walls and roofs, but the complaints were allegedly ignored by the school management.
The report says the roofs of a nursery classroom on the second floor and rooms on the ground floor collapsed while classes were in progress. Rescue teams worked for hours to pull children and other victims from the debris, while anxious parents gathered outside the school to seek information about their children.
According to the FIR, children had also expressed concerns about the building’s condition, but the school owners allegedly failed to take corrective measures.
The report states that the school was built on a 16-marla plot owned by Waheed and Javed. The land was reportedly leased in 2024, after which the school building was constructed.
The incident has raised questions about the building’s structural safety and the quality of the materials used in its construction. In an earlier media interaction, school owner Khan Muhammad reportedly blamed several days of rainfall for the collapse.
A police investigation officer said the school owner had been arrested over allegations involving the use of substandard construction materials. Families of the victims have called for a comprehensive investigation and accountability for those found responsible.
