Guns ablaze: Passersby thrash speeding dumper truck driver for killing newlywed motorcyclist

A speeding dumper truck hit Shahzaib, a ladies tailor, in Karachi's Garden area late on Monday night. He died enroute to the hospital while his wife sustained injuries. Passersby caught the errant driver and set his vehicle ablaze. The Dumper Trucks Association responded by firing gunshots in the air.

"My son had gone out for a ride with his wife after a full day of work when a dumper crushed him near Ramswami," said Muhammad Shahid, father of the deceased. "It has only been four months since he married a girl of his choice."

Given the neighbourhood's congested and narrow streets, the dumper truck driver, identified as Niaz, could not escape the site and was caught red-handed by citizens present at the time of the accident. A mob gathered to beat up Niaz before handing him over to the police.

Meanwhile, as news spread, Dumper Trucks Association President Liaquat Mehsud reached the site, attempting to rescue Niaz from the enraged crowd. His vehicle was pelted with stones while his guards opened fire. Passersby recorded the latter on video before Mehsud managed to flee.

Read: Speeding dumper crushes biker in Korangi, angry crowd torches vehicle

The dumper in question remained ablaze till Tuesday morning.

Getting wind of the incident, members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) reached the site, adding fuel to the fire.

Case(s) lodged

Two separate FIRs were registered at Garden Police Station. The first, on Shahid's complaint, under Sections 320 and 337-G of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) — pertaining to causing unintentional death and driving under the influence, respectively.

A second FIR was lodged on the complaint of social activist Abdul Qadir against Mehsud and his guards. Sections 337-H(II), 147, 148, and 149 of the PPC were invoked in this instance. Section 337-H(II) pertains to intentional attempt to cause hurt while the others deal with rioting, unlawful assembly and possession of deadly weapons.

Read More: Court moved over fatal dumper truck accidents

Aggreived citizens questioned why offences listed under the Anti-Terrorism Act were not included in the second FIR despite video evidence implicating Mehsud's guards with possession and use of automatic weapons.

Superhighway closure & pre-arrest bail

Earlier, Mehsud had announced that the association would block Superhighway for traffic if an FIR is not lodged against those who attacked him.

The association's spokesperson claimed that gunshots had been fired on Mehsud's car at the site. The vehicle bears clear gunshot marks, he insisted.

Qadir, on the other hand, remained adamant that it was Mehsud's guards who brandished weapons and fired bullets.

"We will not abandon the youth of Karachi. The city belongs to us and the people here are ours. We are setting an example by nominating Mehsud and the terrorists who came with him in the FIR," he said.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the South District and Sessions Judge accepted Mehsud's pre-arrest bail plea against a surety bond of Rs50,000.

The court directed Mehsud to cooperate with the police for the investigation.

Taking notice of the matter, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori extended condolences to Shahzaib's family and condemned the aerial firing by Mehsud's guards. He urged the police to take immediate action.