ISLAMABAD: A driverless car hit a police vehicle at Islamabad’s D-Chowk after losing control because of an internet disruption.
Journalist Muhammad Aalijah, who was sitting in the car, shared a video showing himself sitting inside the car while an operator remotely controlled its movement.
This was interesting, though i appreciate the effort. pic.twitter.com/VVFeg4cji5
— Syed Sammer Abbas (سید ثمر عباس) (@SammerAbbas) August 31, 2026
As Aalijah explained the vehicle’s features, its remotely operated steering suddenly malfunctioned.
The car then moved toward a parked police van despite Aalijah’s attempt to stop it using the handbrake.
The video quickly went viral, prompting social media users to share humorous captions and comments about the incident.
Internet Disruption Causes Vehicle to Lose Control
Aalijah later told Dawn that technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar from Abbottabad had invited him to report on the automated-driving project.
He said the vehicle operated normally until an internet disruption caused a technical failure.
According to Aalijah, the car depended on internet connectivity for remote operation, and the connection loss caused the vehicle to become uncontrollable.
He later clarified that his report did not aim to defame or target the vehicle’s owner.
Journalist Warns About Experimental Technology
Aalijah said his video aimed to highlight safety concerns surrounding experimental technology before wider public use.
He explained that the vehicle used satellite and internet connections for external control.
However, the car lost control immediately after the internet connection failed and collided with the police vehicle.
He warned that the incident occurred in a relatively quiet, high-security area with limited traffic.
If the same failure happened on a busy road, Aalijah said, it could cause serious injuries or fatalities.
Meanwhile, social media users have continued sharing the footage, with some praising efforts to promote local innovation.
Others have focused on the incident’s humorous side, turning the self-driving mishap into a wave of online memes.
The disruption of internet has led to a car crash in Islamabad. The future of driverless cars in Pakistan appears bleak as internet disruption is a common feature in Pakistan.
