Following a devastating bus accident near Kallar Kahar that resulted in the loss of 13 lives and left more than 30 individuals injured, a criminal complaint has been lodged against the bus driver, its owner, and others involved.
The incident occurred yesterday when a bus traveling on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway crashed and overturned near Kallar Kahar.
The first information report (FIR) was filed on Saturday evening by Motorway Police Officer Muhammad Bilal at the Kallar Kahar police station. The FIR identifies the bus driver, bus owner, manager of the Rawalpindi station (from where the bus departed), manager of the bus company’s station, and the motor vehicle examiner as those responsible for the accident.
The FIR cites sections 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab), 337G (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent driving), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), and 109 (punishment of abetment if the act abetted committed In consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the complaint filed by Officer Bilal, he was on routine duty at N-225 when he received an alert around 3:14 pm about the bus, registered with number BSG-055 and owned by Shalimar Transport Service, being involved in an accident.
Upon arriving at the scene, Bilal observed that the bus driver, Farhat Abbas Shah, had lost control of the vehicle, causing it to break through the crash barrier and overturn.
The FIR states that 13 people lost their lives in the accident, with five remaining unidentified at the time. Additionally, 32 individuals sustained injuries and were promptly transported to the Kallar Kahar Trauma Centre by ambulances from Rescue 1122, Hascol Petroleum, and the Frontier Works Organisation.
Survivors informed authorities that the bus was not in optimal condition when it departed from the Rawalpindi bus station. They claimed to have notified the driver, bus owner, and Rawalpindi station manager about the vehicle’s issues. However, they were assured that the bus was fit for travel, as per the FIR.
Nonetheless, the complaint holds the driver accountable for the accident, alleging negligence, recklessness, and overspeeding. The bus owner and station manager are also deemed responsible for allowing the bus to operate despite its unfit condition.
Furthermore, the complaint calls for action against the main manager of Shalimar company’s main bus station in Jhang and the motor vehicle examiner, as they are implicated in the incident.
The FIR lists the names of several victims, including Arooj, Fatima, Rohan, Shayan, Hadia, Ameer Bibi, Maneesa Bibi, and Imran, while the identities of the remaining deceased are yet to be confirmed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep grief over the loss of lives in the accident and extended his condolences and prayers to the affected families. He emphasized the need for motorway authorities to ensure that vehicles comply with safety standards and that drivers adhere strictly to regulations, stating that a safe journey can only be guaranteed through proper adherence to rules.
Preliminary reports suggested that the accident occurred due to brake failure, causing the driver to lose control of the bus while crossing the Salt Range. The bus, en route from Rawalpindi to Jhang, collided with other vehicles before overturning on the opposite track.
Rescue operations were swiftly initiated by Deputy Inspector General (Motorway) Mohammad Yousaf Malik and Kallar Kahar police sector commander, with victims trapped in the wreckage being extricated and transferred to hospitals in Kallar Kahar and Rawalpindi.
As investigations continue, eight of the victims have been identified so far, while efforts are underway to ascertain the identities of the remaining victims.
