The driver of a runaway dumper truck that evaded Karachi traffic police and endangered public safety on Sharea Faisal has surrendered and been arrested, police confirmed on Monday.
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, showed a dumper ramming a police vehicle and fleeing the scene.
The footage sparked outrage online and prompted a citywide crackdown on dumpers and heavy transport vehicles.
According to police, the arrested driver claimed he was being chased by motorcyclists and feared his vehicle would be torched — a response to recent mob violence triggered by road accidents involving heavy vehicles.
Prior to the driver’s arrest, Karachi Traffic Police seized 27 dumpers and issued fines to 142 drivers under sections 99/113 of the 1965 Motor Vehicles Ordinance.
The crackdown began after the Dumper Association failed to hand over the vehicle and driver involved.
The Dumper Association had initially agreed to cooperate but later backtracked, prompting authorities to escalate action.
The backdrop to the incident is a sharp rise in road fatalities in Karachi.
Over 250 deaths have been reported so far this year, with at least 70 involving dumpers, water tankers or trailers.
In response to public anger, the Sindh government has imposed a daytime ban on heavy vehicles in the city and introduced a 30 km/h speed limit for HTVs. However, enforcement challenges persist.
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