ISLAMABAD: The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) has suspended the operations of Faisal Movers within the Motorway North Zone for 30 days following a fatal accident on 30 December 2024. The crash, which occurred on the M-14 motorway, claimed 17 lives and injured 14 others. The bus, bearing registration number BSB-705, was traveling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad when the driver, allegedly fatigued, lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and overturn.

In an order issued on 31 December 2024 by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Motorway North Zone), Faisal Movers was found to have committed multiple violations that contributed to the tragic incident. The NHMP invoked Sections 45 and 90(2)(a,b) of the National Highway Safety Ordinance, 2000, to impose the suspension.

Discrepancies identified in the NHMP order

The official order highlighted several lapses by Faisal Movers and its driver:

1. Unauthorized Route Usage: The bus, per its route permit, was authorized to travel between Kot Mithan (Rajanpur) and Rawalpindi. However, it was found “to be operating outside its designated route, illegally traveling on the CPEC M-14.”

2. Tracker Access Denied: The order states, “Despite clear-cut directions, the access of the said bus tracker was not provided to NHMP for monitoring.”

3. Over-Speeding: Upon reviewing the bus’s tracker history, it was revealed that the vehicle was traveling at 112 km/h, which “exceeded the motorway speed limits at the time of the accident.”

4. Driver Fatigue: The company allowed only one driver to operate the bus continuously for more than five hours, violating NHMP regulations.

5. False Claim of Tyre Burst: Faisal Movers initially claimed the accident was caused by a tyre burst, but the NHMP dismissed this justification, stating, “The aforementioned violations and discrepancies clearly indicate fault on the part of the company and the driver.”

Suspension period and future compliance

The order makes it clear that operations of Faisal Movers within the Motorway North Zone “shall remain suspended during the territorial limits of Motorway North Zone for a period of 30 days w.e.f. 31-12-2024 to 29-01-2025.”

The company will only be allowed to resume operations after meeting the safety conditions outlined in the NHMP’s 2021 SOPs.

Calls for stricter regulations

This tragic accident has once again highlighted the pressing need for strict adherence to safety regulations and accountability within Pakistan’s transport sector. Families of the victims and the general public are demanding stronger oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The NHMP’s decisive action serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of ensuring passenger safety and enforcing regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of life on the nation’s roads.