1. Driver of racing car loses control, crashes into spectators after hitting safety railing.
2. Police claim race held every week despite not being given permission to do so.
LAHORE: At least five people, including three of a family, were killed and two others injured as a car crashed into spectators during a race in Islamabad, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to police, a car race competition had been arranged on Sunday to promote motor sports in the country. During the car race, one car lost control and crashed into spectators after hitting the safety railing and smashing into a footpath. The driver, along with four other bystanders, including one child, was killed. Three members of a family, including a father and his son, were also among the unfortunate bystanders. The car was running at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Two of the wounded have been shifted to a nearby hospital by rescue teams, where their condition is reported to be stable, the channel said.
Police said the car race was held every week, even though people had not been given any permission to do so. Rawalpindi DCO Imdad Bosal said the administration did not permit the race, adding that after which, the organisers of the race chose the area. Whereas, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aamir Ali said permission for the race was not sought from the Islamabad administration.
On the other hand, Rawat Police Station SHO has admitted that the race site was in the limits of the police station and two sub-inspectors, one ASI and 10 police constables were deployed at the site, the channel reported.
According to details, one Atif Sheikh wrote a letter to the DCO office on December 1 seeking permission for the race. On December 2, the DCO’s office asked the Special Branch to present a report on the matter. A report from the DPO office permitted the race, but the report from the Special Branch disallowed it. On December 4, the Rawalpindi DCO office formally prohibited the race, saying that it could not be allowed. In spite of this, the race was held in the limits of the Rawat Police Station. However, SHO Chaudhry Mehdi claimed that he had a permit letter for the race. Investigations into the incident have begun by the Rawalpindi DCO.
The organisers of the race have said that the spectators were warned several times to stay at a distance from the race track and not to get close to the railing – Dailytimes