ISLAMABAD: A former general manager of Pakistan Railways on Thursday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking a judicial inquiry into last year’s Tezgam Express accident which claimed 75 lives.

Petitioner Shafiq Ullah cited Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the secretary, chief executive officer, inspector general railways, establishment division secretary and principal secretary to the prime minister as respondents.

The petition requested the court “to hold a judicial inquiry into 7-UP Tezgam Express train accident of October 31, 2019 and to revoke the contradictory orders made by the Ministry of Railways damaging valuable rights of the affectees of the accident and suppression of material facts”.

It said that the railways secretary “has deviated from the basic structure of the Railways Act, 1890, creating chaos and panic amongst different cadres by allowing undue advantage to undeserving senior grade officers”.

According to the petition, rail accidents happen due to human error or interventions, deliberate or otherwise, which need to be cured with the execution of due process of the system and appointment of deserving functionaries in accordance with merit and seniority.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2020