Judge surprised by transfer of vehicle impounded after fatal accident

A sessions court has ordered two excise and taxation officials of Lasbela district to appear in person to explain how a dumper truck impounded by the Shahrah-e-Faisal police after it had hit and killed a girl had its ownership transferred and a fitness certificate issued while still being in custody.

Additional Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon was hearing an application filed by driver Nazeer Ullah seeking directives for the police to release his vehicle that was seized after it allegedly killed a girl, Sara Iqbal, in a road accident on August 20.

The applicant, who has been booked on negligent and rash driving charges, submitted a copy of the vehicle's registration book as well as an affidavit.

A Senior Excise and Taxation Officer-1, Motor Registration Authority, Lasbela District at Hub in a letter affirmed the applicant's ownership of the vehicle.

The judge noted that the vehicle was impounded after the alleged accident and brought to the Shahrah-e-Faisal police station where an FIR was lodged against the driver.

"In this case, I have gone through the original registration book of the vehicle and became so astonished while seeing that above mentioned vehicle was transferred in the name of the present applicant on August 26. Though the said vehicle was impounded on August 20," the judge observed.

"In fact the vehicle is still available at the police station, then under such circumstances question arose as to how it was got transferred in the name of the present applicant on the same date when the FIR was lodged here at Karachi?"

The judge said that the vehicle's tax was also received by the ETO on August 26, adding that as per the documents, the vehicle was examined and issued a fitness certificate by Liaquat Ali Bugti, motor vehicle examiner, Lasbela at Hub on the same day when the truck was available at the Shahrah-e-Faisal police station.

"Under such circumstances question also arose as to how the Motor Vehicle Examiner had examined the above vehicle at Lasbela at Hub on August 26 and issued such certificate of fitness when the vehicle was not physically available over there," wondered the judge.

He directed both the officials to appear in person along with an explanation as to how "they acted in transferring and examining the above mentioned vehicle". The hearing was put off until September 12.