A vehicle crashed into a gathering near Saba Avenue in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 6, Karachi, resulting in injuries to 14 individuals, mostly women.
According to police authorities, the incident transpired at approximately 9:26 pm outside Masjid-o-Imam Bargah Baqiyatullah. Initial reports documented that five people were injured, though subsequent updates verified that the total count rose to 14 wounded individuals.
Darakshan Station House Officer (SHO) Rashid Ali stated that the driver of a Suzuki pick-up lost control over his vehicle, breaching a roadside tent structure erected on Saba Avenue, where mourners were attending a majlis. The vehicle struck attendees inside the setup before halting.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained from the site illustrates the car entering the vicinity at high speed prior to colliding with citizens. Preliminary briefings presented to provincial authorities indicate potential brake failure as the primary cause behind the loss of vehicular control.
Videos circulating on social media showed injured people lying on the road outside the imambargah, while other mourners could be heard crying out for help and requesting ambulances.
In one of the videos, an unidentified voice is heard warning that there is a bomb inside the vehicle. Panic then broke out, and people ran to safety.
Rescue services shifted the casualties to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). Eleven of the injured individuals were identified as Shazia, 45, Maheem Akram, 30, Mehnaz Shahbaz, Zunaira Akram, five-year-old Iman, Mumtaz Zafar, 40, Kausar Perween, 30, Shaherbano, 22, Irshah Bibi, Ayat Majid, and Sumaira Tariq.
Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah took formal notice of the traffic accident and issued directives to the Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police.
The CM ordered the submission of a comprehensive report regarding the development and mandated law enforcement to ensure strict accountability measures against those responsible. Shah instructed the department to finalize a thorough inquiry, requested the presentation of a full investigation report, and offered prayers for the rapid recovery of the victims.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South Mehzoor Ali confirmed that law enforcement personnel have secured custody of the vehicle involved in the crash. Furthermore, three suspects, including the driver and two others, have been detained by the police for interrogation and legal assessment.
