Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

Update: Lahore Traffic Police has decided to register an FIR in light of the incident that took place on Saturday night. This is done to discourage minors from driving because a registered FIR will have life-long consequences. Previously, young drivers were issued traffic violation ticket or a challan as a sign of reproach but the latest incident of the loss of six lives because of a minor has provoked them to take stern actions against this issue.

اب کم عمر ڈرائیورز پر چالان کی بجاۓ ایف آئی آر درج ہو گی، کریمنل ریکارڈ ہونے پر سرکاری نوکری کیلئے اہل نہیں ہوں گے، والدین اپنی ذمہ داری نبھائیں اور اپنے کم عمر بچوں کو ڈرائیونگ کی اجازت ہرگز مت دیں.#lahore #PunjabPolice #IGPPunjab #awareness #parents pic.twitter.com/f37gumgIJt

— Lahore Traffic Police (@ctplahore) November 13, 2023

Lahore Traffic Police has released a video of the teenage boy who killed six people of a family in a road accident on Saturday. The boy named Afnan Shafqat, a resident of Askari 11 and a student of A2, can be seen in the video -posted on X- answering the questions of the policeman about the details of the accident.

The boy learned driving from his cousins and has been driving for less than a year in his own words.

On the weekend night, the boy, along with a group of cousins was on his way to McDonalds in DHA, Phase 7. Afnan explains that while they were crossing the barrier, driving at the speed of 110 km/hour, a car emerged from the right, driving at the speed of 10-20 km/hour, his car collided with the incoming one. The boy states that because of the barriers on both sides, the “driver had no choice but to hit the car.” However, he later on added that his parents did ask him to take the driver along but he said no.

The police claim that the purpose of the video is that “parents and kids learn from this mistake” while on the other hand, netizens are criticising the police for showing the face of the boy, as yet a minor, citing a breach of privacy. Journalist Faraz Saeed said, “The loss of life is great, indeed, but young people should not be made subject of public humiliation and exposed to possible attacks, by posting such videos. The defendant has the right to privacy.”

The losss of life is great, indeed, but young people should not be made subject of public humiliation and exposed to possible attacks, by posting such videos. The defendant has the right to privacy.
Plz ensure the safety of the kid.
People will talk crass and savagery,to vent.🛑 https://t.co/leHunaOfok

— Faraz Saeed 🇵🇰 (@farazsaeed15) November 13, 2023

Section 21 of PECA laws says that the use of electronic means that may result in reputational damage or breach of privacy shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years which may extend up to five million rupees or both.

Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023 also has moved a step ahead with section 30-C, which states that the trial of offences against minors shall be conducted in-camera. Moreover, section 31-A says that, whether or not a specific complaint has been made against the content, the NR3C, the FIA is in charge of gathering information before the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks or removes it.