Karachi: Amidst increasing incidents of mob violence in Karachi, a water tanker was set on fire after it allegedly struck a local resident, causing minor injuries.
The accident occurred at Sakhi Hassan Five Star Chowrangi when the tanker driver fled the scene. A group of 10 to 12 individuals pursued him and subsequently torched the vehicle, according to local media reports on Saturday.
The police from Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Noor Jahan station arrived at the location soon after the incident. An investigation is currently underway, with authorities reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Prior to this incident, more than 10 dumpers and water tankers were set ablaze by mobs near Power House Chowrangi and 4-K Chowrangi in North Karachi after a truck driver hit a motorcyclist, injuring him.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Karachi West, Irfan Baloch, stated on Thursday in an interview with ARY News that the arson was the result of “premeditated planning.”
Hassaan Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s emergency services, noted that the rescue services received a call regarding a dumper colliding with a motorcycle rider at Nagan Chowrangi in North Karachi. Following the collision, a mob pursued the dumper and set it on fire.
Khan also reported that while fire crews attempted to extinguish the flames, the mob attacked them with stones. A total of 10 dumpers and water tankers were torched in various parts of North Karachi within a span of three hours, leading to significant damage to the vehicles.
Despite the chaos, Karachi police conducted raids and arrested 19 suspects, charging them with terrorism, and classified the incidents as “pre-planned arson acts.”
According to Dawn, there has been a concerning rise in traffic accidents in Karachi, particularly involving dumpers and water tankers, which resulted in nearly 500 deaths and 4,879 injuries in 2024, as stated by hospital data. These incidents sparked public protests over fatalities, prompting the provincial government to implement a ban on the movement of heavy vehicles during daytime in Karachi.
