Railways lists 349 disciplinary cases; 120 pending, 18 accident inquiries unresolved

Pakistan Railways has 120 disciplinary cases pending out of 349 recorded between 2022 and September 24, 2026, while 18 inquiries into train

Islamabad:  Pakistan Railways has 120 disciplinary cases pending out of 349 recorded between 2022 and September 24, 2026, while 18 inquiries into train accidents and derailments remain unresolved, according to a written reply submitted by Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi in the National Assembly.

One of the longest pending cases concerns the derailment of 11 coaches of the Hazara Express at Sarhari station in Sukkur division on August 6, 2023. More than three years later, the inquiry report has still not been finalised by the Federal Government Inspector of Railways. The official record says the investigation requires a wider fact finding process and does not give a confirmed completion date.

The reply was submitted in response to a question by Member of the National Assembly Sahibzada Sibghatullah. It shows that 229 of the 349 disciplinary cases recorded over the period had been finalised, while 120 remained pending as of September 24, 2026.

The year wise figures show that 42 cases were recorded in 2022, of which 39 were finalised and three remained pending. In 2023, 50 of 58 cases were finalised, leaving eight pending. In 2024, 65 of 95 cases were completed, while 30 remained unresolved. In 2025, 65 of 93 cases were finalised and 28 were pending.

The latest figures are particularly notable. Of 61 disciplinary cases recorded in 2026 up to September 24, only 10 had been finalised, leaving 51 pending.

Separately, the minister reported that 18 accident inquiries remained outstanding. Six were pending with divisional level officers, three were with the Federal Government Inspector of Railways, and nine were the responsibility of principal officers, deputy principal officers and other listed senior officials.

Besides the 2023 Hazara Express accident, the three cases listed as pending with the Federal Government Inspector of Railways include the derailment of the Islamabad Express between Kala Shah Kaku and Muridke on August 1, 2025, and the overshooting and derailment of the Awam Express at Lodhran on August 17, 2025. The expected completion dates for these inquiries were not provided in the record, which said they could be confirmed through the relevant railway offices.

Several other recent accidents are also under investigation. These include the derailment of a Karachi Express coach at Karachi Cantt on June 30, 2026, a collision involving the Shalimar Express between Malir and Landhi on July 15, 2026, and the derailment of a Hazara Express coach between Dina and Domeli on September 11, 2026. The derailment of a power van attached to the Hazara Express at Sohawa on September 14 and a locomotive of the Kohat Express at Babri Banda on September 22 were also listed as pending.

Railways officials have set October 2026 as the expected completion period for several recent cases. Other inquiries are expected to continue until the end of 2026 or March 2027, depending on the case and the receipt of investigation reports.

The record also shows that some proceedings depend on responses from staff, personal hearings, approval of inquiry reports or action by other organisations. In one older case involving a goods train at Rohri in February 2022, action against staff working for the National Logistics Cell was still awaited from that organisation.

The figures show that disciplinary action has been completed in most cases recorded in 2022 and 2023, but a substantial backlog remains in later years.