A major development has emerged in the tragic roof collapse incident at a private school in Dera Ghazi Khan after police confirmed the arrest of the school principal and several other individuals allegedly linked to the case.
During a high-level press conference, District Police Officer Sadiq Baloch revealed that school principal Sheikh Akram had been arrested from Multan following an extensive operation. Police teams also conducted raids in multiple districts, including Islamabad, Lahore and Mianwali, as part of the ongoing investigation.
The press conference was also attended by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid, SP Investigation Abdul Rahim Laghari and members of the affected families.
According to the DPO, the arrest was made early in the morning following strong demands from the victims’ families. He added that preliminary investigations indicate the school roof collapsed due to excessive debris and construction material placed on top of the structure.
Police further confirmed that the arrested principal has formally been included in the investigation process, while Armaghan Jaskani and Arsalan Jaskani have also been taken into custody for questioning.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid announced strict administrative action following the tragedy. He confirmed that all branches of the private school have been sealed, while a district-wide survey of private school buildings and registration records is currently underway.
The deputy commissioner disclosed that the Municipal Corporation had already issued notices to the school administration before the incident, raising serious questions about possible negligence and failure to comply with safety instructions.
In another significant move, Deputy DEO Juma Khan and an assistant education officer have been suspended pending further inquiry. Authorities say action will be taken against all those found responsible, without discrimination.
The district administration also expressed solidarity with the grieving families and announced the formation of special monitoring teams to ensure effective inspection and regulation of private schools across the district.
The tragic incident has intensified concerns about the safety standards of private educational institutions in Punjab, with many parents demanding stricter building inspections and accountability measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.
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