The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP), Motorway North Zone, has suspended Faisal Movers’ operations for 30 days after a tragic accident on December 30, 2024, claimed 11 lives and left 14 others injured. The suspension, effective from December 31, 2024, to January 29, 2025, was announced by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Motorway North Zone, citing multiple safety violations and operational lapses by the company.

Details of the Accident

The accident occurred on the CPEC M-14 Motorway when a Faisal Movers bus traveling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad veered off the road and overturned. An official investigation revealed that the crash was caused by driver fatigue and operational negligence, contradicting the company’s initial claim that a tire burst was responsible.

Violations Highlighted in the Official Report

The NHMP’s investigation uncovered several violations of safety regulations and operational protocols by Faisal Movers:

1. Unauthorized Route Usage: The bus was operating on a route for which it did not have a valid permit. It was authorized to travel from Kot Mithan (Rajanpur) to Rawalpindi but was found operating outside its designated route on the CPEC M-14 Motorway.
2. Failure to Provide Tracker Access: The company failed to provide access to the bus’s tracker, violating NHMP safety protocols.
3. Excessive Speed: Tracker data revealed that the bus was traveling at 112 km/h at the time of the accident, exceeding the motorway’s speed limits.
4. Driver Fatigue: Only one driver was assigned to the bus, and he had been driving for over five consecutive hours, breaching NHMP regulations.
5. Negligence: The company’s claim of a tire burst causing the accident was invalidated by evidence pointing to operational negligence.

Suspension and Conditions for Resumption

The suspension prohibits Faisal Movers from operating within the Motorway North Zone until January 29, 2025. The NHMP has stated that the company’s operations will only resume after it complies with the safety conditions outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the NHMP Central Police Office in August 2021.

NHMP’s Stance

The NHMP emphasized that the suspension is a necessary step to ensure passenger safety and prevent future incidents. The authority has urged all transport companies to strictly adhere to safety regulations and operational protocols to avoid similar penalties.