Twelve-year-old Zainera Akram who was injured on Sunday night after a vehicle apparently rammed into mourners outside Imambargah Baqiatullah in DHA Phase V has died, while police have registered a case under terrorism and other serious charges.
According to FIR No. 430/26, registered at the Darakhshan police station on the complaint of Fahad Akhtar, at around 9:25pm on June 21 a Suzuki bearing registration No. KM-5794 broke through the barriers and the tent erected outside the imambargah before entering a crowd of mourners.
The complainant said a Muharram majlis was under way, with a large number of men, women and children present at the venue at the time of the incident. He claimed that the vehicle had been deliberately driven at a high speed and with reckless disregard for human life, resulting in injuries to several mourners.
He said that in the light of ongoing threats faced by Shias from banned sectarian and extremist groups operating in the country, the incident cannot be viewed merely as a traffic accident. The driver Muhammad Zahid, Danish Saeed, Munir Khan and an unidentified individual have been nominated in connection with the incident. Police have been requested to proceed against them under various provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The complainant also demanded the arrest of all planners, facilitators and accomplices allegedly involved in the incident. Police said an investigation is under way, with CCTV camera footage, video evidence and eyewitness statements being examined.
They said legal action would be taken against those found responsible after the completion of the investigation. Security in the area has been tightened following the incident, with additional personnel deployed to protect religious gatherings and Muharram congregations.
