Deputy Secretary Information for the Pakistan Peoples Party (Central Punjab), Ahsan Rizvi, on Thursday strongly criticised the Punjab government over the recent roof collapses at a school and a tuition centre in Lahore that claimed the lives of several children. Calling the incidents deeply painful, he demanded accountability from top officials rather than teachers.
Rizvi's Statement
In a statement, Rizvi said the deaths of innocent children in the tragic building collapses could not simply be brushed aside by arresting teachers, questioning whether the Punjab government’s responsibility ends there. He remarked that the only duty the Chief Minister and the Education Minister of Punjab seem to be fulfilling these days is handing government schools over to private contractors, while the real questions of safety and oversight go unanswered.
Accountability Questions
He asked who should be held accountable for the failures of the Building Control Authority and the District Education Authority, both of which, he said, had clearly failed in their duty to ensure the safety of school and academy buildings. Rizvi further alleged that the growing presence of the Para Force and other enforcement bodies across Punjab served no real purpose beyond exploitation and extortion.
Scale of Tragedy
Highlighting the scale of the tragedy, Rizvi said that fifteen children in Lahore have now lost their lives simply while trying to pursue an education, yet no government official has taken moral responsibility or resigned. He said that by outsourcing education to contractors, the Chief Minister and Education Minister have effectively washed their hands of any accountability for what happens in schools across the province.
Call for Resignation
He also questioned who bears responsibility for inspecting the deteriorating condition of school and academy buildings, asserting that it is the District Education Officers and Para Force personnel — not teachers — who should be facing arrest for the negligence that led to these tragedies. Concluding his statement, Rizvi said that if any sense of shame or conscience remains, the Education Minister of Punjab should resign immediately.
