In the aftermath of the deadly bus accident near Kallar Kahar, which claimed 13 lives and left more than 30 people injured, a criminal complaint has been filed against the bus driver and its owner, among others, it emerged on Sunday.
On Saturday, a bus veered off the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway into the opposite lane 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.
It names 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 who are responsible for the accident.
It invokes 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.
The FIR stated that 32 others were injured, who were then taken to the Kallar Kahar Trauma Centre via ambulances belonging to Rescue 1122, Hascol Petroleum and the Frontier Works Organisation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply grieved by the loss of lives” in the accident and sent his sympathies and prayers to the bereaved families.
Noting that the frequent occurrence of accidents on the Salt Range was disturbing, he said, “Motorway authorities should ensure that vehicles plying on the motorway are fit for journey and that the drivers meet all driving standards.”
“A safe journey can only be ensured by following the rules and regulations strictly,” he added.
A day ago, the police said the driver lost control over the steering due to a “brake failure”, with the result that it veered off the road and overturned on the opposite track.
The bus, which left Rawalpindi for Jhang, met with the accident when it was crossing the Salt Range, the police spokesman said.
