4 of a family die in truck-rickshaw collision
An accident near MAO College late Sunday night claimed the lives of four members of a family when a truck belonging to a beverage company overturned on their rickshaw, crushing it completely.
Two minor children miraculously survived with minor injuries.
The deceased were identified as 67-year-old Shafique, his 60-year-old wife Shabana Shafique, their 35-year-old son Sajid Shafique, and 32-year-old daughter-in-law Iqra, wife of Sajid.
The family, residents of Saidpur Bazaar on Multan Road, was traveling in a rickshaw when disaster struck.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the truck, loaded with beverage bottles, lost control and toppled onto the rickshaw near the busy MAO College intersection.
The impact was so severe that the rickshaw was completely flattened under the weight of the truck.
Eyewitnesses and rescue officials said Sajid's two young sons, aged five and six, were saved because their parents instinctively shielded them in their arms moments before impact - a tragic act of protection that cost the adults their lives.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene, retrieving the bodies and shifting the injured children to Mayo Hospital.
A case under Section 322 (negligent act causing death) has been registered at Sanda Police Station on the complaint of Abdul Hafeez, father of the deceased Iqra. The truck driver fled and remains at large.
Family Alleges Police Apathy
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Umais, brother of the deceased Iqra, said he was forced to visit multiple police stations in search of his nephews after the crash.
"My sister had come to visit us because my brother was constructing a new house," he said. "When I reached the accident site, her in-laws were already dead, while my sister and her husband had been shifted to the hospital."
He added that the family spent hours locating the children, who had reportedly been taken into custody by police.
"I was sent from Islampura to Mozang and finally to Sanda police station - all while dealing with the shock of losing four loved ones," Umais said, demanding accountability for the mishandling.
Relatives Protest Delayed Response
Family members accused authorities of arriving over an hour late, saying police wasted precious time debating jurisdiction rather than providing emergency aid.
"They were arguing about which station the site falls under while bodies were lying on the road," a relative said.
Taimoor, grandson of the deceased Shafique, lashed out at the City Traffic Police, saying, "They are always busy collecting fines, but no one ensures traffic discipline or prevents overloading."
According to family sources, both Shafique and his son Sajid were tailors who had come to Lahore for work-related errands.