Girl killed as teacher rams car into students

Suspect ‘accidentally’ pressed accelerator instead of brake while driving to her workplace for first time

MULTAN:

A school student was killed on the premises of her school after a teacher ‘accidentally’ rammed her car into students during the morning assembly on Monday.

Reportedly, the female teacher of a government school in Multan rammed her vehicle into a group of female students during the assembly time. As a result of the incident, a student, who was studying in the 10th grade, was killed on the spot. In addition to this, three other students had suffered injuries. The injured victims were shifted to Multan's Nishtar Hospital.

South Punjab Schools Education Secretary Dr Ehtesham Anwar had taken notice of the tragic incident of the death of the student in the car accident at Government Girls Muslim High School Bridge Moj Darya. The schools' education secretary suspended the school principal Mah Talat as well as the teacher identified as Iqra Jamshed.

According to the police report, the teacher of Government Muslim Girls High School had reached the school for the first time while driving her car. The car reportedly entered the school premises where the morning assembly was being held.

Meanwhile, the school teacher Iqra reportedly accidentally pressed the accelerator of her car instead of the brakes. As a result of this, the car went out of control and it eventually rammed into a group of female students present in the assembly.

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Amara, the 10th class student, was killed on the spot while three female students identified as FIzza, Mahim and Amir were severely injured. They were shifted to Multan Nishtar Hospital by Rescue 1122.

According to the police officials, the female teacher had recently learned to drive and her husband, who worked at a private bank, gave her the car some time ago. She drove to the school for the first time and her husband had accompanied her while riding his motorcycle. Reportedly, the suspect’s husband left after the car had reached outside the school premises.

After the incident, fear and panic spread among the school girls.

Most of the parents of the students also reached the school. Due to circumstances, they also dismissed the school. After the incident, the district administration and education officers also reached the spot.

The South Punjab schools education secretary responded to the tragic incident of the student’s death by suspending the school principal as well as the teacher involved in the road accident.

Meanwhile, South Punjab Secondary Education’s Public Instructions Director Aizaz Ahmad Khan had been appointed as the inquiry officer for the case. The regional educations secretary had sought a report from the director of public instructions within 24 hours.

He directed that after checking all the facts, those responsible should be identified so that further action could be taken against the suspects for their alleged negligence.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Shamsheer Ahmad Khan had also formed an investigation team under the supervision of Elementary District Officer Rao Javed Rafique and ordered him to submit a report within two days.

According to SHO Chahlik Imran Gul Niazi, the 10th class student Amara was killed in the accident and her parents had appeared before police and a local magistrate. The accident victim’s heirs had stated that they did not want any inquiry into the incident and by calling it an accident, they reportedly pardoned the female teacher.

After the funeral prayer of the school student was held, she was buried in a local graveyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2021.