ISLAMABAD: The complainant in a gas cylinder explosion case, which resulted in the death of two persons, on Wednesday changed his stance and sought registration of FIR against the ‘victim’.

The explosion occurred on July 25 which sent a wave of panic and fear in the surrounding areas of the food street of Bahria Town Phase 7.

Following the incident, Civil Defence Officer Talib Hussain lodged a complaint with the Rawat police seeking registration of the FIR against owners of the a restaurant and the commercial plaza that rented out the space to the eatery.

The initial complaint, a copy of which is available with Dawn, stated that the restaurant owner stored substandard LPG cylinder in the backyard of the restaurant without seeking mandatory licence ‘P’ from the relevant department.

It said that the negligence of the owners of the restaurant and the building resulted in the explosion in which two persons died on the spot whereas four got seriously injured.

The complainant sought registration of an FIR under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Explosive Act and Civil Defence (Special Power) Rules.

Rawat police did not register the FIR on the said complaint.

In the meanwhile, Khurram Shehzad, a resident of the area, filed a pro bono public petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Sept 9, seeking crackdown on restaurants in Bahria Town’s food street that used substandard gas cylinders.

He stated in the petition that he was a victim of the blast since a boundary wall of his house also collapsed in the incident.

LHC Justice Jawad Hassan on Sept 11 issued notices to the respondent authorities and sought their replies.

Interestingly, the Rawat police on Sept 14 registered the FIR against Shehzad on the complaint of the same officer of Civil Defence.

Civil Defence Officer Talib Hussain changed his earlier stance in which he accused the owners of restaurant and commercial plaza and shifted the responsibility on Shehzad.

He stated in the complaint that a committee constituted by the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi comprising additional deputy commissioner, Civil Defence officer and Executive Engineer Building Department concluded that Shehzad, a resident of Phase 7 Bahria Town, constructed his outer wall with substandard material and it was not in accordance with the set design specification.

The complainant stated that when the gas leaked, the wall collapsed on the cylinders and caused the explosion in which two people died.

He sought registration of FIR against Shehzad under section 321 of the PPC Civil Defence (Special Powers) Rules.

The police registered the FIR against Shehzad under section 322 (causing accidental death) of the PPC and Civil Defence Rules.

Talking to Dawn, Civil Defence Officer Talib Hussain said that he changed the statement as the inquiry committee concluded that Shehzad was responsible for the cylinder blast.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2023