Islamabad Authorities Detain Three Suspects in Margalla Hills Arson Case

ISLAMABAD: The district administration of Pakistan’s federal capital detained three individuals on Friday on suspicion of arson in the Margalla Hills, as efforts to combat the forest fires entered their fourth consecutive day.

Since Tuesday, fires have intermittently erupted across the hills in Islamabad. Authorities have yet to determine whether these fires are due to the soaring temperatures or deliberate arson.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon confirmed the arrests, stating, “Three persons have been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to the Margalla Hills.” Memon shared these details during a press briefing at the scene where fire extinguishing efforts were ongoing.

Precautionary measures have been implemented to prevent the fire from reaching residential areas. “Helicopters and firefighters are actively engaged in extinguishing the fire,” Memon added.

Expressing concerns about potential arson, Memon noted that cases had been filed against 15 individuals two days prior, with more arrests expected in the coming days. He urged the public to help identify those responsible for starting the fires.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) reported that the fire had broken out in Kalingar Valley earlier that morning. The three suspects were apprehended at the fire site in Kalingar Valley and have been handed over to the police for further investigation.

The authorities are currently battling forest fires in multiple regions, including Islamabad, as Pakistan contends with intense heatwaves and dry weather conditions. The country has recorded temperatures as high as 52.2 degrees Celsius (126°F) in the past week, with South Asia experiencing an unusually hot summer, a phenomenon scientists attribute to human-driven climate change.

Thick plumes of smoke were visible from the fires in Islamabad’s hills, where temperatures reached 41 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon. “It is challenging to deploy fire brigades to the area; rescue officials are strategizing on how to extinguish the fire,” said Islamabad police official Sohail Khan. He noted that the cause of the fires—whether due to heat or arson—remains uncertain.

A spokesperson for the Islamabad police mentioned that a special team had been formed to investigate the fires, under the directive of the city’s police chief.

Waqar Zakaria, a member of the Islamabad Wildlife Board, suggested that the fire might be an act of “wilful arson.” He pointed out that unusually prolonged high temperatures and a drier-than-normal May had contributed to the rapid spread of fires due to dry vegetation.

Nearby in Punjab, close to Islamabad, a fire consumed 25 acres of grassland in Kallar Kahar. The province’s disaster management authority (PDMA) reported that the fast-spreading flames had been contained. “The Kallar Kahar forest fire might be a heat-related incident,” said PDMA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain.

Additionally, forest fires were reported in Lower Dir, 250 km northwest of Islamabad. Resident Mohammad Jalil told Reuters that the flames had begun engulfing hundreds of trees four days ago and remained uncontrolled.

Pakistan is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to extreme weather and climate change by global organizations. In 2022, the country experienced devastating floods that killed over 1,700 people and displaced millions.