Ahmedpur East (Bahawalpur)police have arrested the main accused in the oil tanker fire on the national highway that claimed the lives of 240 people in June last.According to police spokesman Naeem Akhtar, accused Khalid Raza, oil tanker company’s manager, was responsible for ensuring quality, model and quantity of petrol in the oil tanker.
After the Ahmedpur East tragedy, the police had registered an FIR against Khalid Raza of Lakki Marwat who reportedly went into hiding to avoid arrest. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah sought assistance from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) as to how substandard oil tankers could be banned from plying roads without any hindrance to the supply.Earlier, the chief justice had sought replies from the Punjab government, OGRA, National Highways director general, Motorway Police and a private oil company.During the hearing, the Motorway DIG told the court that the Ahmedpur East tragedy was the result of substandard oil tanker. “Since then, three such incidents had taken place,” he said. Attock Oil Company had told the court that only 1,500 oil tankers out of 11,000 were fit for use but the number was not enough to ensure the required supply. Government had earlier barred oil tankers from carrying oil more than their capacity but drivers of oil tankers resisted the move and staged a strike.
