Lack of safety measures: Two labourers die in less than two weeks

Police yet to make arrests or interrogate contractors

ISLAMABAD: Two labourers have been killed in less than two weeks, while working at an under-construction plaza in the Diplomatic Enclave due to lack of safety measures at the site.

After both the incidents, police booked the plaza owners as well as the contractors but have neither made any arrests nor interrogated the suspects.

On August 18, when Tahir Munir, a shuttering worker, died after he fell, while working at the Karakoram Diplomatic Enclave plaza. Two other workers, Mudassir and Irfan, also suffered injuries in the incident.

After the incident, police officials visited the scene and found the construction site lacking in safety measures for workers.

Secretariat police booked owners of the plaza, major (retd) Saeed Ahmad and Naseer Ahmad, as well as contractor Muhammad Safdar for “qatl-bis-sabab” (murder without intention).

Police said they found labourers working without helmets and those working at a height wore no belts.

IO Imran Haider told The Express Tribune on Sunday that heirs of the deceased labourer submitted a statement saying Munir’s death was accidental and that they did not want a case against the owners or the contractors.

Owners on their part told the police that according to the contract, safety arrangements were responsibility of Liaqat Ali, a contractor.

Police exonerated the owners and booked Ali, who has obtained pre-arrest bail from a sessions court.

On August 28, Muhammad Arslan, a welding worker, fell while working at the same building and died.

In this case too, the police booked Saeed Ahmad, Naseer Ahmad, Muhammad Safdar as well as Muhammad Irshad, Hassan Akhtar, Muhammad Ilyas, Imran and Mansoor.

However, police have not interrogated any of them.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2016.