Peshawar School Tragedy: Case Registered Against Owners, Shareholders and Contractor
PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Police have registered a case against the owners, shareholders and construction contractor of a private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony following a roof collapse that killed 30 children and a female teacher, according to the initial figures recorded in the first information report (FIR).
The case was registered at Agha Mir Jani Shah Police Station after the October 15 incident at Al-Khair Education System. The FIR states that 52 people were injured in the collapse.
FIR alleges substandard construction
According to the FIR, the school building was in a deteriorated condition and had been constructed using allegedly substandard materials. The document also states that complaints had previously been made about the condition of the building’s walls and roofs.
The FIR alleges that concerns raised about the structure were not adequately addressed by the school management. These allegations will need to be examined as part of the police investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Owners, shareholders and contractor named
Police registered the case against the people identified in connection with the ownership and construction of the school building, including its owners, shareholders and contractor.
According to the FIR, the school stood on a 16-marla plot that was leased in 2024, after which the building was constructed. The case also records details concerning the property and the materials allegedly used during construction.
The FIR includes Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to qatl-bis-sabab, as well as Sections 148 and 149. Police said action was being taken to arrest the suspects named in the case. The registration of an FIR records allegations and does not itself establish criminal guilt.
Roof collapse caused deaths and injuries
The incident occurred when sections of the school building’s roof collapsed onto classrooms below. Children and a female teacher were among those killed, while dozens of others sustained injuries.
The tragedy prompted an emergency response and renewed scrutiny of the building’s structural condition and the safety arrangements at private educational institutions.
Death toll figures require continued verification
The initial FIR recorded 30 children and one female teacher among the dead, with 52 people injured. However, subsequent reporting on October 16 cited higher casualty figures, including reports that the overall death toll had risen to 34. The figures may differ because casualty information was updated as authorities and hospitals reconciled the number of victims.
Investigation focuses on building safety
The case is expected to examine the allegations concerning construction quality, the building’s deteriorated condition and whether earlier complaints were ignored.
The findings will be important in determining whether negligence or violations of applicable safety requirements contributed to the collapse. Any conclusions about individual responsibility will depend on the investigation and legal process.
The tragedy has also highlighted the need for effective structural inspections and safety oversight at schools, where children depend on administrators and regulators to maintain safe learning environments.
Police proceedings are ongoing, and further verified information about the investigation, suspects and final casualty figures should be incorporated as it becomes available.
