KARACHI – On Monday, police filed a terrorism case against the van driver who struck a tent of mourners outside an imambargah in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) the previous day.
The FIR, lodged on the complaint of the imambargah’s security chief, also listed three of the driver’s companions as accused.
Police reported that at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, a Suzuki pickup collided with a tent outside the imambargah where mourners were gathered for a Muharram *majlis*.
A teenage girl injured in the crash died from her injuries today. In total, 23 people were hurt, including the driver and his companions, who are receiving hospital treatment and have been detained.
Five of the wounded received treatment for minor injuries and were released immediately, while a man admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre remains in critical condition.
South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle because of excessive speed and breached the security barriers set up about 200 metres from the imambargah to safeguard the *majlis* participants.
After breaching the barriers, the vehicle entered the congregation area and crashed into the tent where the gathering was taking place, injuring several attendees.
The FIR lodged by the imambargah’s security chief alleged that the driver deliberately breached the barriers and rammed into the tent as part of a planned scheme and criminal conspiracy.
He asserted that the vehicle was driven at reckless speed with malicious intent, and that striking seated mourners — men, women and children — constituted a planned and deliberate attempt to cause harm.
The FIR claimed that the act was not accidental but a deliberate rehearsal of a larger terrorist operation, noting ongoing threats from banned outfits and sectarian organisations.
The FIR also cited a video of the incident circulating on social media, which it said demonstrated the attack was intentional in targeting the religious gathering.
The FIR named the accused driver, Mohammed Zahid, and his three companions — Bahadur Saeed, Momin Khan, and Arsalan (alias Nadan).
Alleging that the act was intended to cause harm and spread fear, the complainant said it violated provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti‑Terrorism Act (ATA), and described it as “sectarian terrorism.”
The FIR further accused the driver and his companions of having connections with banned outfits.
The DIG said the case has been transferred to the Counter‑Terrorism Department (CTD) for further investigation, and that CCTV footage and other evidence are being collected to ascertain the facts.
