There’s been mounting outrage following a tragic incident involving a student of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Abdul Hadi, who was killed and his brother, Abdullah Khan, injured when a speeding car struck their motorcycle in Lahore’s DHA area. According to the reports, the driver responsible for the accident was underage and speeding at the time of the collision.
According to SP Bushra Nisar of the Cantonment Division Investigation, the suspect is currently on pre-arrest bail until June 14, after which they will face court proceedings. The driver, aged 17, fled the scene leaving their vehicle behind.
An FIR filed at the Defence C police station stated that the deceased, aged 22, and his brother, aged 30, were traveling from DHA Phase 7 to Defence Raya on a motorcycle when the accused, driving a Toyota Altis, collided with them. The driver was reportedly speeding and driving recklessly from Defence Raya to Block N.
The FIR further detailed the destruction of the victims’ motorcycle in the accident, resulting in Abdul Hadi’s tragic death and Abdullah’s severe injuries.
In response to the incident, social media has been flooded with expressions of outrage, with many pointing fingers at affluent DHA residents, fearing they might evade accountability due to their privilege.
Concerns have been raised about the underage driver’s parents being held accountable for the accident, considering that the legal driving age in Pakistan is 18.
Notable figures like singer Maria Unera have urged parents to refrain from allowing their underage children to drive unsupervised, condemning the tendency of affluent families to shield their children from consequences.
Singer Umair Jaswal and others have shared the news on social media platforms, offering condolences to the victim’s family.
The LUMS community, where Abdul Hadi was studying engineering, has rallied behind the call for justice, advocating through the #JusticeforAbdulHadi hashtag.
Some have pointed out the role of signal-free corridors in encouraging reckless driving, while others have highlighted the high-speed driving culture in Lahore’s DHA Phase 6 and 7, emphasizing the inevitability of accidents.
In solidarity with the victim’s family and to demand the arrest of the driver, a protest is scheduled at Liberty Chowk on Wednesday.
