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Swat Tragedy: PHC Summons Commissioners Over Tourist Deaths
PHC summons Malakand, Hazara & other commissioners over Swat River tourist deaths. CJ questions failure to rescue 17 lives & lack of safety measures. Report due tomorrow.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-02
Swat Tragedy: PHC Summons Commissioners Over Tourist Deaths

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday summoned the commissioners of Malakand, Hazara, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and other relevant officials in their personal capacity over the recent deaths of 17 tourists in the Swat River.

The directives were issued during the hearing of a petition concerning the alleged negligence of local authorities that led to the tragic loss of lives.

A bench comprising Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Fahim Wali presided over the case, raising serious questions about the government's preparedness and failure to implement safety measures during tourist season.

“Seventeen lives were lost due to negligence. Why weren’t tourists rescued in time? Why weren’t drones used to provide life jackets?” asked the Chief Justice, holding officials accountable for the lack of timely rescue efforts.

Court Demands Accountability

The court questioned who is responsible for ensuring the maintenance and safety of the river and tourist sites, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the apparent absence of proactive planning and enforcement.

In response, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Advocate General informed the court that an anti-encroachment operation had been initiated in Swat, and while an air ambulance was available, it could not be deployed “due to time constraints.”

“Warnings were issued by the government—why weren’t they implemented?” the Chief Justice asked pointedly.

Next Hearing Scheduled

The court ordered a detailed report on the incident to be submitted and adjourned the hearing until Thursday (tomorrow). Officials have been directed to appear with complete documentation and explanations regarding the incident, rescue failure, and preventive protocols.

The incident, which claimed the lives of tourists including children, sparked widespread public outrage over the lack of safety measures, particularly in one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s most visited tourist regions.

This court action signals growing judicial pressure on local and provincial authorities to ensure accountability and reform in tourism safety management, especially during monsoon season when rivers swell dangerously.

 
Tagged:

PeshawarHighCourt

TouristSafety

SwatIncident
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