Dead driver, bus owners booked in Sherani bus crash case

Authorities in Pakistan's Sherani district have filed a First Information Report (FIR) following a devastating passenger coach crash that claimed numerous lives. The case targets the deceased driver, Babu Ustad, along with the management and owners of the Mekhtar Bus Company, citing allegations of reckless driving.

The FIR, lodged at the Dhanasar police station, includes charges under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has directed an investigation, leading to the sealing of the bus company's office. Investigators are actively questioning individuals connected to the incident.

So far, 26 victims have been identified, and their bodies have been sent to their native regions. Officials confirmed that the majority of those killed were from districts within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with some passengers en route to Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Compensation packages have been announced: Rs2 million for the families of those killed and Rs1 million for each injured passenger.

According to the FIR, an altercation occurred between the driver and some passengers shortly before the accident. Injured passengers reported hearing threats directed at the driver, who reportedly responded defiantly. While the FIR details the driver's alleged enraged and reckless driving, the specific reasons for the initial dispute remain unclear.