KARACHI: A tragic road accident in the early hours of Sunday claimed the lives of two siblings and left their father injured, triggering mob violence that resulted in the torching of seven dumper trucks and brought traffic to a standstill on major routes in the city.
According to officials, the crash occurred around 3:15am on Rashid Minhas Road, near Lucky One Mall, when a speeding dumper struck a motorcycle carrying the family. The impact killed 22-year-old Mahnoor and her 14-year-old brother Ahmed Raza on the spot, while their 48-year-old father, Shakir, sustained serious injuries.
Central SSP Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqi told reporters that enraged residents and transporters gathered at the scene, blocking Rashid Minhas Road and parts of the Superhighway near Sohrab Goth. The protests caused long traffic jams, with both inbound and outbound lanes towards Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Hyderabad, and Al-Asif Square completely shut down.
In the chaos that followed, a mob set fire to seven dumper trucks on both sides of the road, within the jurisdiction of Yusuf Plaza and Federal B Area police stations. “We moved in quickly to secure the area, apprehend the driver involved, and take the dumper into custody,” the SSP said. Fire tenders were called to extinguish the blaze, while diversions were set up to redirect traffic.
Police later confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects in connection with the arson, with more arrests expected as video and technical evidence is reviewed.
At Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that the siblings had been brought in dead, adding that Mahnoor was due to be married soon. Their father was treated for injuries, while two truck drivers were also brought in with critical wounds after being beaten by the mob. One of them was identified as the alleged dumper driver involved in the crash.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan said all seven trucks were badly damaged before firefighters brought the situation under control.
Later in the day, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that negotiations between the protesting transporters and the provincial government had succeeded, bringing the demonstrations to an end. The meeting, held at the Karachi Commissioner’s House, was attended by transporter leaders Haji Yousaf and Jam Alam, along with senior government and police officials.
Memon extended condolences to the victims’ family and condemned the violent aftermath of the accident. “We understand the transporters’ legitimate concerns, but violence and vandalism are never the solution,” he said, warning that those who took the law into their own hands would face charges under anti-terrorism laws.
He further announced that dumper owners would be required to install cameras and tracking devices in their vehicles, ensure proper driver licensing, and maintain insurance coverage. A committee will also assess the losses suffered by the transporters.
The incident comes amid growing public concern over Karachi’s heavy vehicle accidents. According to hospital data, nearly 500 people have been killed and over 4,800 injured in 2024 alone in crashes involving dumpers, trailers, and water tankers. Earlier this month, a speeding trailer truck rammed into vehicles in Defence Housing Authority, injuring two, while in July, a 59-year-old milkman was run over by a dumper in Saudabad
