The Joint Certificate Report on the Hazara Express accident declared the main reason for the crash was the damaged engine wheels and the absence of a metallic fish plate joining the rail tracks.

The report was sent to the Railway Headquarters, stating the accident occurred due to the incompetence of the Civil and Mechanical departments. Both departments refused to take responsibility for the accident and started the blame game. 

The metallic fish plate joining the tracks was missing and a wooden piece was used in its place, the probe reports, adding there was no possibility of terror/sabotage acts causing  the crash.