QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Monday cancelled the route permit of the Millat Coach Company and registered a case against owners of the company and the driver responsible for the tragic accident near Bela area which claimed lives of 41 innocent people.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili said the provincial government would take strict action against owners and drivers of buses and passenger coaches carrying smuggled Iranian petrol and diesel during their journey to any part of the province.

“Carrying smuggled Iranian petrol and diesel in public transport is already strictly prohibited,” he said.

He said there were reports of presence of Iran’s smuggled petrol and diesel in the passenger coach which met the tragic accident near Bela, but these reports had not been confirmed so far.

The chief secretary said the initial report of the tragedy had mentioned a video clip which showed a stove burning near the driver’s seat. However, he said, the matter was still being investigated whether the video was of the bus or not.

He said there was no presence of the Motorway Police from Khuzdar to Hub and because of this, drivers of the vehicles did not bother about speed limits.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2023