KARACHI: A video clip went viral on social media after a remote-controlled car crashed into a police van in Islamabad, reportedly due to a “technical fault” caused by an internet disruption.

On Sunday, journalist Muhammad Aalijah uploaded a video on his official social media account showing him seated in the front passenger seat of a car at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, which appeared to be operated using a remote-control device.

As Aalijah explains the car’s features and it moves forward, the steering wheel, controlled remotely by an operator, suddenly goes out of control. The car consequently bumps into a police van parked along the road.

The video also shows Aalijah pulling the handbrake in an attempt to prevent the car from hitting the police van, but his efforts prove futile.

Since being uploaded, the video has been widely circulated on social media, with users adding witty captions to the footage.

When contacted, Aalijah told Dawn that he had been asked by technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar of Abbottabad to report on his tech-based automated-driving innovation.

“Everything was fine until a technical fault occurred due to an internet disruption, causing the car to go out of control and crash into a police vehicle,” he said.

Aalijah explained that the car was controlled remotely over the internet and that a sudden loss of connection caused it to go out of control.

In a social media post on Monday, Aalijah said his intention in making the video was “never to defame or target this young man”, who owned and operated the car.

“The sole purpose was to raise awareness and urge people to remain cautious until any new experiment or technology has been thoroughly tested, proven safe and established as a complete success,” he said.

“This was a message of caution, not an attempt to discredit anyone.”

Sharing the video online, Aalijah said the car’s system was not yet “completely safe and reliable”.

“The vehicle was being operated through satellite and internet connections, but during external control, it went out of control as soon as the internet connection was disconnected and collided with a police vehicle,” he wrote.

The incident occurred in a high-security area with very little traffic. “If the same situation had occurred on a busy road, the consequences could have been extremely dangerous, even fatal,” he said.

“This video is not criticism; it is a responsible effort to raise awareness and issue a warning — by all means, experiment, but ensure safety first,” he added.

Self-driving memes take on a life of their own

Meanwhile, the video has been widely shared on social media, with some users appreciating the journalist’s efforts to promote local talent, while others have responded with amusing remarks.

“Certainly, there is no shortage of talent in Pakistan,” a user wrote, quoting Aalijah in a jibe.

An internet user added that even AI panics in Pakistan when it sees the cops.

Another user advised the car’s owner and tech innovator not to give up.

“Funny for some, maybe, but I see a great effort. It failed today; yes, hiccups happen, but I know this young Pakistani will one day have a perfect solution.”

Noting the huge public attention, a user said the video clip had the potential to become the next “international meme”.