ISLAMABAD/KHAIRPUR: The Motorway Police have blamed the National Highway Authority (NHA) for Tuesday’s bus-truck collision near Khairpur in which 57 people lost their lives. The NHA, on the other hand, has blamed the driver of the bus.

“The Motorway Police have repeatedly informed the NHA about the shabby condition of the Gambhir road (on which the accident took place) but it has paid no heed,” an official of the National Highways and Motorways Police told Dawn.

“I have written eight letters to NHA officials about the poor condition of the road and lack of signboards, particularly diversion signs, but there has been no response,” he said.

The Motorway Police blame NHA for tragedy

The road was built only five months ago, he said and alleged that substandard material had been used in construction.

“The bad condition of the road was the main reason for the deadly accident,” the official said.

The NHA has been regularly criticised for constructing roads of poor quality and its officials have been accused of receiving commissions from contractors.

The NHA said in a statement that an inquiry committee had been formed to investigate the causes of the accident.

When contacted, NHA spokesman Ikramus Saqlain said the road was still under construction and the accident had taken place because of the mistake of the driver, who was driving the bus on the wrong side of the road.

He avoided answering a question about the letters written by the Motorway Police to the NHA and denied the allegation that NHA officials indulged in taking commissions from contractors.

Despite several attempts, NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar could not be contacted.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Pakistan People’s Party submitted a call-attention notice to the National Assembly secretariat on Wednesday, asking the minister for communications to explain why such fatal accidents had been taking place frequently in the recent past.

“Such incidents occur mainly because of negligence of authorities like the NHA which do not maintain the highways at par with international standards. Similarly, irresponsible attitude of motorway/highway police to allow overloaded vehicles to run on roads and their failure to check speeding by drivers are among the major causes of such lethal incidents, said the notice moved by five PPP lawmakers.

The notice has been signed by Dr Nafisa Shah, Shazia Marri, Abdul Sattar Bachani, Nawab Wassan and Shagufta Jumani.

FIR NOT REGISTERED YET: An FIR of the accident could not be registered for want of approval from senior police officers, the SHO concerned said on Wednesday evening.

Sources said that police officers, on the basis of their initial investigation, were of the opinion that the uneven portion of the road, a wide ditch beside it and narrowed down lane open for traffic due to closure of the adjacent lane for repairs appeared to have led to the accident.

Volunteers of certain non-governmental agency and local residents who took part in relief and rescue work blamed the accident on the NHA and the Motorway Police, saying they faced severe hardships in transporting the people injured in the accident, and the bodies, to hospitals due to the road’s poor condition.

Thehri police said they had sent a draft of the FIR to senior police officials for approval. “As soon as we receive the approved draft we will register an FIR,” they said.

Meanwhile, two of the 20 injured being treated at the Khairpur Civil Hospital were shifted to Hyderabad by their relatives on Wednesday. They were identified as Nisar Ali Khan and Aneela Noor Mohammad. Two others had been sent to Hyderabad late on Tuesday evening.

A minor girl, Mehek, aged about 5 years, is under treatment at the Khairpur Civil Hospital but her relatives could be contacted yet.

Police said the truck driver, Jameel, was under treatment in police custody.

Our staff correspondent adds from Hyderabad: Federal Ombudsman Salman Farooqui has directed officials of its Sukkur regional office to collect details about factors leading to the accident. He has also directed officials to conduct an inquiry and submit a report to him.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, he said action would be taken against any official of the NHA, the Motorway Police or a government department found responsible for the accident.

He said the office of the ombudsman would prepare a detailed report on causes of road accidents on highways with a view to helping the government to improve highways and roads and ensure safe travel.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2014