Minor girl dies after vehicle crashes into Defence imambargah in Karachi

KARACHI: A minor girl injured when a speeding Suzuki vehicle crashed into an imambargah in Karachi's Defence Phase VI has died during treatment, while the case has been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department for further investigation.

Police said the incident took place on Sunday night at Imambargah Baqiatullah, located within the limits of Darakhshan Police Station. According to the police account, the vehicle went out of control and rammed into the women's section during a religious gathering, leaving 16 people injured.

One of the injured, identified as Zainera, daughter of Akram, later died at hospital. Police have registered a first information report at Darakhshan Police Station under Sections 324, 337-G, 279, 427, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The complainant stated in the FIR that the incident was not an accident but an intentional act and a rehearsal for a larger terrorist attack. However, DIG South Asad Raza said the initial assessment points to an accident rather than terrorism.

According to police, the people travelling in the Suzuki are residents of the Qati Pahari area near Orangi Town. DIG South Asad Raza said medical tests of the vehicle's occupants had been carried out to determine whether they were under the influence of intoxicants at the time.

Investigators initially suspected that the vehicle's brakes may have failed, but officials said no final determination would be made until the Traffic Police Road Analysis Unit submits its technical report. DIG South Asad Raza also confirmed that the Counter-Terrorism Department has taken over the case and has begun examining all angles, including the possibility of terrorism.