Pakistan Peoples Party Workers (PPPW) President Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi and senior party leader Naheed Khan have expressed profound grief over the collapse of a tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area, which claimed the lives of 14 children and left several others injured. In a joint statement, they described the incident as a preventable human tragedy caused by alleged criminal negligence in the construction of the building and questioned the performance of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), which is responsible for enforcing building regulations.
Allegations of Negligence and Corruption
They said repeated public complaints about corruption, weak enforcement and unauthorised commercial construction had gone unaddressed, allowing unsafe structures to remain in use. “This is not merely an accident but a human tragedy that demands accountability. The lives of our children cannot be sacrificed because of negligence, greed or the failure of regulatory institutions,” they said.
Demand for Judicial Inquiry and Arrests
The PPPW leaders extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased, a speedy recovery for the injured and strength for the affected families. They demanded the immediate arrest of all those found responsible, including the builder if negligence is established, and called for an independent, transparent judicial inquiry into the incident.
Call for Action Against LDA Officials
They also urged the government to suspend and prosecute any LDA Building Control officials whose negligence or misconduct may have contributed to the tragedy, stressing that comprehensive reforms were needed to ensure strict enforcement of building safety laws across Punjab. Other PPPW leaders, including Fayyaz Ali Khan, Rai Qaiser, Hur Bukhari, Sajjida Mir and Chaudhry Aslam, also joined in condemning the incident and calling for accountability.
Broader Context of Building Safety
The incident has reignited concerns about lax enforcement of building codes in Lahore, where unauthorised constructions and commercial conversions of residential properties are common. The PPPW leaders emphasised that without systemic reforms, such tragedies would recur. They also noted that Suthra Punjab workers had lodged a protest demanding payment of salaries, highlighting broader governance issues in the province.
