BAHAWALNAGAR: A minor boy died while his three siblings and an uncle suffered critical injuries when a speeding oil tanker hit their motorcycle in Chishtian on Wednesday.

According to locals, four children were riding home with their uncle from school when a speeding oil tanker slammed their motorcycle from behind on the Qaziwala Road and ran them over.

The injured were rushed to the THQ Hospital where a child was pronounced dead while others were being treated at the hospital and their condition was said to be critical.

The deceased was identified as 12-year-old Abubakar of Mari Shuk Shah village.

In a video statement, the affected family criticised the traffic police and the local administration and claimed that the number of traffic accidents during rush hours in Chishtian had increased.

They alleged that it was due to the traffic police’s incompetence, while the administration appeared to be completely incapable of taking any protective measures for the safety of children during school hours.

They stated that heavy traffic should be banned from entering the city during school hours and should be routed to the Bypass Road. They said heavy penalties should be imposed on overloaded and speeding vehicles to prevent such tragedies.

Police said that the oil tanker had been confiscated and operations were underway to apprehend its driver, who had fled following the accident.

BOOKED: Five people have been booked for allegedly thrashing a livestock department team who were busy culling stray dogs in Dahranwala during an ongoing campaign.

The FIR registered with the Dahranwala Police on the complaint of a veterinary officer stated that teams from the livestock and local government departments were present at union council 83 near Chak 140 Murad on May 19 to discuss a dog culling campaign launched across the district on the instructions of the Punjab government. It claimed that five persons, including Muhammad Altaf, armed with batons and sticks arrived at the scene, attacked and stopped the team members, slapped, punched and insulted them, and threatened to murder the officials.

Police booked the suspects and started investigations, while no arrests were so far made in the case.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026