Rights group not happy with probe into Sorange tragedy

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Coal miners and relatives gather after a coal mine collapsed in the Surange area, some 50 kilometres east of Quetta, on July 30, 2026. — AFP/File
Coal miners and relatives gather after a coal mine collapsed in the Surange area, some 50 kilometres east of Quetta, on July 30, 2026. — AFP/File

QUETTA: The National Labour Federation (NLF) Balochistan has raised serious concerns over the Court of Inquiry committee formed to investigate the Sorange coal mine disaster, demanding that the provincial government and the mines department reconstitute the body to ensure a transparent, independent, and impartial probe.

In a press statement, the NLF expressed regret that the ongoing investigation appears to be shifting focus away from the main culprits and targeting individuals with no direct involvement in the incident. Meanwhile, the mine owner, leaseholder, contractor, and other key responsible parties are allegedly being shielded from scrutiny.

The NLF warned that scapegoating innocent individuals not only denies justice to deceased miners and their grieving families but also undermines future safety enforcement. The federation urged the government to pinpoint the true causes of the tragedy and hold those who violated safety regulations accountable.

The federation stressed that the Sor­a­nge tragedy must not be brushed aside as just another mining accident. It emphasised that only a transparent investigation and stern action against the actual perpetrators can deliver genuine justice to the victims and prevent similar disasters.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2026

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