Zakaria Express driver, assistant granted bail

A Malir court granted bail on Monday to the Zakaria Express driver and the assistant driver whose alleged negligence caused the train to ram into a stationary train in Juma Goth near Landhi Railway Station.

Twenty-two passengers had perished and another 65 suffered injuries in the collision, which occurred at 7:18am on November 3 when the Zakaria Express rammed into the stationary Fareed Express in Landhi’s Gaddafi Town. 

Two cars of the Fareed Express and one of the Zakaria Express were destroyed in the accident. Witnesses described watching in horror as the Zakaria Express from Multan crashed into the Fareed Express from Lahore, which was parked there, with the bang of the crash quickly followed by the screams of people trapped inside. Rescuers armed with metal-cutting equipment and cranes saved the passengers, including women and children.

Initial investigations showed that the driver of the Zakaria Express, Muhammad Rafique, and his assistant, Atif, ignored the red signal.

After hearing arguments, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge granted bail to the accused for a surety sum of Rs150,000 each.

Later, Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique had pointed to the negligence of the driver and assistant driver of the train coming from behind as possible cause for the incident.

He added that the drivers were first shown a yellow signal — an indication to slow down — followed by a red signal, "the SOP of which is stop [the train] dead for a minute and then proceed very slowly".

He said the drivers ignored both signals, which "apparently" led to the collision.

"Financial assistance can never be a replacement for human life," he said, while announcing a compensation of Rs1.5 million for the family of each killed and Rs350,000 for the injured.

He said "negligence of some irresponsible officials" appeared to be cause of the incident because the railway's signalling system was working "totally fine".

The minister had earlier said an "independent inquiry" would be held to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.