Police in Lahore have registered a criminal case against property owners and a construction worker following the collapse of a roof in the city's Kahna area that killed 14 children and injured eight others. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Basti Eid Gah near Qurban School on Ferozepur Road, where dozens of children were attending classes when the roof of a room inside a residential building caved in.
FIR Details and Legal Provisions
According to the First Information Report (FIR), available with The Express Tribune, the case was registered at Kahna Police Station on the complaint of Kashif Aslam, Enforcement Inspector of the Nishtar Zone, Lahore Metropolitan Corporation. The FIR includes Sections 322 and 337-H of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertain to causing death by negligence and causing hurt through a rash or negligent act.
Police have named four suspects: three brothers — Usman, Faizan, and Rehan — who own the property, and Umair, a construction worker who was carrying out repairs to the building. Rehan's wife, Aamila, who was running a tuition centre from a room in the family's house, was injured in the collapse but has not been named as an accused.
Negligence During Repairs
The FIR states that repair work was being carried out while children were attending classes inside the building. Construction material had allegedly been placed on the roof of the room being used as the tuition centre, even though the roof was already in a dilapidated condition. The additional weight allegedly caused the roof to collapse.
Investigators collected evidence from the scene and concluded that negligence during the repair work appeared to have caused the collapse. Police said further investigations are underway to establish the criminal liability of those named in the case.
Government Response
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the incident, directing authorities to ensure the injured received the best possible medical treatment and to expedite rescue efforts. She also ordered an inquiry into the collapse, sought a report on the incident, and directed officials to determine responsibility. On her instructions, Adviser to the Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik visited THQ Hospital Kahna to oversee the government's response.
