Court informed that further investigation was needed to determine responsibility for 17 tourist deaths
Locals gather after picnicking tourists were swept away by overflowing floodwaters of the Swat River in Pakistan’s Swat Valley June 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters/File
PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court was informed on Thursday that further investigation is required to determine responsibility for the Swat flash flood tragedy.
The court was informed that the Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) initially recommended for action was neither stationed in the affected area nor responsible for the incident as he had not issued any no-objection certificate (NOC).
During the hearing, the local government special secretary told the court that the investigation by the provincial inspection team into the drowning of 17 people during a flash flood in Swat required further investigation to properly identify those responsible. He added that inquiries were also needed from the Communication and Works (C&W) and Irrigation departments as the land on which the hotels were constructed belonged to the Irrigation department, while the adjacent road was under the jurisdiction of the C&W department.
The court ordered that the matter be brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the court be kept informed in writing of the developments.
Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah, who presided over a two-member bench along with Justice Ijaz Khan, remarked that the incident was a “huge and heartbreaking tragedy”, noting that the family members drowned in front of others’ eyes. He said such incidents could happen to anyone and stressed the need for a thorough investigation to determine responsibility for negligence. The chief justice advised the authorities to formally approach the chief secretary for further investigations and ensure that all relevant departments are involved.
The hearing focused on petitions filed against the drowning of 17 tourists in the Swat river due to flash floods and failure to rescue them in time. Special Secretary Local Government Arshad Ali, Deputy Attorney General Gauharur Rehman Khattak, Deputy Advocate General Riaz Painda Khail, petitioner’s lawyer Amir Alam Babar Khan Yousafzai, amicus curiae Sikandar Rasheed Advocate and other lawyers appeared before the court.
