A video of a remote-controlled car crashing into a police van in Islamabad has gone viral, with social media users reacting with a mix of humour and appreciation for the local innovation behind it.
Journalist Muhammad Aalijah uploaded the video on Sunday, showing himself seated in the front passenger seat of the car at Islamabad’s D-Chowk. The vehicle appeared to be operated using a remote-control device as Aalijah described its features while it moved forward. Moments later, the steering wheel went out of control, and the car bumped into a police van parked along the road.
Aalijah pulled the handbrake to try to stop the collision, but couldn’t stop the car.
Aalijah told a media outlet that he had been asked by Abbottabad-based technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar to report on his automated-driving innovation. He said that the car was controlled remotely over the internet and that a sudden loss of connection caused the malfunction. “Everything was fine until a technical fault occurred due to an internet disruption, causing the car to go out of control and crash into a police vehicle,” he said.
In a follow-up post on Monday, Aalijah clarified that his goal was not to embarrass the young innovator who built and operated the car. “The sole purpose was to raise awareness and urge people to remain cautious until any new experiment or technology has been thoroughly tested, proven safe and established as a complete success,” he wrote. He added, “This was a message of caution, not an attempt to discredit anyone.”
Aalijah explained that the car ran on satellite and internet connections and lost control the moment the connection dropped. “The vehicle was being operated through satellite and internet connections, but during external control, it went out of control as soon as the internet connection was disconnected and collided with a police vehicle,” he pointed out. He noted that the incident happened in a high-security area with very little traffic, and warned that the outcome could have been far worse elsewhere. “If the same situation had occurred on a busy road, the consequences could have been extremely dangerous, even fatal,” he said.
He also stressed that his intention was to encourage responsible testing rather than criticise the project. “This video is not criticism, it is a responsible effort to raise awareness and issue a warning. By all means, experiment, but ensure safety first,” he said.
Once online, the clip triggered a wave of reactions. Many users leaned into the humour of the moment while others praised the effort behind the experiment. One user quoted Aalijah’s own words back at him in a lighthearted jibe, writing, “Certainly, there is no shortage of talent in Pakistan.”
Another joked that even AI seems to panic in Pakistan when it spots the police.
Some reactions carried encouragement rather than mockery. One user urged the young innovator to keep going despite the setback, writing, “Funny for some, maybe, but I see a great effort. It failed today, yes, hiccups happen, but I know this young Pakistani will one day have a perfect solution.”
Another predicted the clip was headed for wider fame, suggesting it had the makings of the next “international meme.”
“This vid is way funnier with translation, he literally says “there’s no shortage of talent in pakistan” as he slams into the cop car,” one user added.
