An angry mob set fire to a cement mixing truck which struck and killed a motorcyclist in Gulistan-i-Jauhar early on Friday morning, according to police and rescue services officials.
Gulshan Superintendent of Police (SP) Ahmed Iqbal Memon told Dawn.com that an “apparently recklessly driven truck” hit the riders near Perfume Chowk at around 1am.
“One of the riders was killed while the other was injured,” SP Memon said. “The incident angered local residents, who came out and set the vehicle (the cement mixer) on fire.”
The police official added that the driver of the cement mixer was arrested and further investigation was launched. “Ostensibly, the incident appeared to be an outcome of reckless driving,” he told Dawn.com.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 official Hassaan Khan told Dawn.com that the vehicle was completely destroyed in the fire.
In a separate incident, a motorcyclist was hit by a trailer truck in Liaquatabad, within the limits of Sharifabad police station.
Central Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqi told Dawn.com that the victim was riding his bike on the Sharea Pakistan flyover in Liaquatabad when the 22-wheeler trailer hit him.
“He suffered critical injuries and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where doctors pronounced him dead,” SSP Siddiqui said. “The errant driver … has been arrested.”.
The police have registered a first information report (FIR) against the driver on the complaint of the victim’s wife under sections 320 (punishment for manslaughter by rash or negligent driving) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The complainant said in the FIR that she was at home when she received a call at 1:30am informing her that her husband had been injured in the accident and brought to ASH. She and her younger brother arrived at the hospital, but they were informed that the victim had expired.