Road accident: Three Rangers men killed

Another nine sustain injuries; tie rod break caused accident

ISLAMABAD: At least three officials of the Pakistan Rangers were killed and nine others were injured on Thursday after their vehicle rolled off the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. The accident took place near Fateh Jang in Attock District.

A National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) spokesperson said 14 personnel of the paramilitary force were travelling in a pickup truck when its tie rod broke and flipped the truck over. Two officials were killed on the spot and eight others were rushed to CMH Rawalpindi with injuries.

“Havaldar Muhammad Asif and Lance Naik Ashiq Hussain died on the spot, while two others were critically injured,” said NHMP spokesperson Mehmood Ali Khokhar.

Later, the interior ministry confirmed that another official had died of his injuries. His name had not been released when this report was filed.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were held at Rangers headquarters in Islamabad on Thrusday evening.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan attended the funeral prayers, after which he expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. He expressed sympathy with the bereaved families, and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2016.