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PESHAWAR, Jul 09 (APP):The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Wednesday declared the Swat tragedy a result of gross negligence and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
In a written judgment on a petition filed against encroachments on rivers and the Swat incident, the court stated that the tragic event that occurred on June 27 in the Swat River was due to the serious negligence of the concerned authorities.
The judgment noted that 17 precious lives were lost due to the failure of officials, and no emergency measures such as helicopters were used to rescue tourists, terming it a clear sign of criminal negligence in public service.
The court also pointed out that illegal construction of hotels and buildings along rivers such as the Swat, Panjkora, Dir, Indus, Kabul, and Charsadda has become common, posing a severe threat to human lives. The existence of these unauthorized structures reflects the failure and silent complicity of the relevant institutions.
The court directed the investigation committee formed on the Swat tragedy to submit its preliminary findings within 7 days and a detailed report within 14 days. The Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also instructed to clarify what steps have been taken so far to ensure public safety.
This firm action by the court is seen as a landmark step towards ensuring accountability and protecting lives in the future.