RAWALPINDI: An assistant director of Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa), tehsildar and other staff of the agency were booked by the police for failing to secure a dangerous hole on a public road impeding public movement, safety and negligence.

Since the construction of drains and development projects managed by Wasa in Rawalpindi city’s busiest commercial hub had been launched, public movement has been badly disturbed and business activities affected.

A case has been registered against the assistant director concerned, tehsildar and other staff of Wasa for carrying out construction work without observing safety regulations during the construction of a drain on Hamilton Road.

Mirza Sajjad Haider, patwari, lodged an FIR with the police, saying that he had been serving in Rawalpindi and following the directives of assistant commissioner (AC City) he visited the site of Wasa’s project of under-ground nullah on Hamilton Road on Monday.

He further said in the FIR that he had noticed that neither any safety measure was taken nor any signboard, safety door or reflector red line put in place at the project site.

Furthermore, he stated in the FIR that no safety wall had been installed, causing significant problems with public movement and endangering their lives. On Monday, the site also saw a landslide, he added.

Haider voiced fear that it could cause damage to automobiles and public property, as well as cause massive, unacceptable loss.

Haider said: “A case should be registered against the assistant director concerned of Wasa, tehsildar Hayat Ali, Raza and other staff members under the relevant sections of the law.”

Following the complaint an FIR was registered under section 283/290 on the complaint of Patwari Sajjad Haider on charges of endangering the lives of the public and labourers and alleged negligence. However, no arrests have been made so far as both the sections of the law were bailable offences.

Pedestrians, labourers and the business community have been facing difficulties in crossing the busiest Hamilton Road as there is a fear of loss of life due to the digging and ill-planned work. Landslides also occurred during the digging at the site; however, nobody was reported hurt or injured.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026