DERA GHAZI KHAN: Police have failed to arrest the owner of the private school whose roof caved in, resulting in the death of four schoolchildren and injuries to 20 others, including 16 children.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Muhammad Azhar Akram had issued orders to the district police officer to ensure the immediate arrest of Little Scholars School owner Sheikh Akram.

Police claim that special police teams were formed to arrest the principal and raids are being conducted but Mr Akram is still at large.

The RPO claimed that police stood by the families of the children and that no leniency would be shown to any accused involved in the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Usman Khalid said that despite assurance given by concern quarters, holding of protest by the parents of the deceased was an attempt to politicise the matter as a parent tried to create ambiguity over the death toll while later he apologised in joint meeting of the families with DC and DPO over the same.

The DC maintained that complaints of parents against the principal/CEO/owner of the school would be included in the case to address their grievances.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2026