A demonstration of an experimental driverless vehicle, controlled remotely by a Pakistani student, took an unexpected turn when the car collided with a parked police van in Islamabad. The incident was captured on video by journalist Muhammad Aalijah, who was present in the passenger seat during the demonstration.
On Sunday, Aalijah shared footage of the event, which showed the car navigating through the D-Chowk area of Islamabad before it unexpectedly veered towards the police vehicle. Despite Aalijah’s attempt to halt the vehicle by pulling the handbrake, he was unable to prevent the crash.
The incident gained attention as Aalijah was highlighting the potential of local talent in Pakistan when the vehicle suddenly changed direction. He later described his efforts to stop the car as futile once it was on a collision course with the police van.
Following the incident, Islamabad Police conducted an investigation and concluded that the student was not at fault. They stated that their inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing and characterized the incident as an unfortunate mistake during the testing of the vehicle, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Aalijah later explained that the loss of control was due to an internet disruption, which he believed caused the vehicle to malfunction. In a conversation with the newspaper Dawn, he remarked, “Everything was functioning correctly until a technical issue arose, leading to the car crashing into the police vehicle.”
The student responsible for the vehicle, Ahsan Zafar Abbasi, provided an alternative account, explaining that the car was intended to turn right, but a mispress of the control key caused it to turn sharply left, resulting in the collision. He stated, “Instead of pressing the right key, the left key was mistakenly activated, leading the car off course.”
After the video circulated widely on social media, Islamabad Police’s SP City Zone, Ayaz Hussain, reiterated that the incident was a misstep during a legitimate test of the invention. He emphasized the potential of the youth in Pakistan, asserting that such incidents should be viewed in the context of innovation and experimentation.
Zafar, a third-semester computer engineering student at COMSATS University from Abbottabad, mentioned that he has been working in this field since 2018 and developed the vehicle as part of a project. He expressed the challenges of conducting practical tests without access to a lab, stating, “This was my project, a driverless car powered by the internet.”
Aalijah pointed out that the incident took place in a low-traffic, high-security area, but he warned of the severe implications had the malfunction occurred on a busier road, potentially resulting in dangerous outcomes. He chose to keep the video online to raise awareness and showcase the talent present in Pakistan, despite requests from Zafar and others to take it down. “It is my duty to highlight this talent and inform the public about what happened,” he added.
The footage prompted a mix of reactions online, ranging from admiration for the technological effort to humorous comments. Some social media users made light-hearted jokes about the incident while others encouraged Zafar not to give up on his project. One user remarked, “While this may seem amusing, it’s clear that this young Pakistani has great potential.”
Despite the setback, Zafar remains determined to advance his project. He declared his intention to persist in his work within the field, aspiring to contribute positively to Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage.
Syed Ilham Jafri is a Trainee Sub Editor at The Indian Express, focusing on breaking news, politics, global events, and current affairs. He is involved in copy editing, live news blogging, SEO optimization, and digital publishing. Jafri has a Master’s in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and a Bachelor’s in English Literature with History from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, with interests spanning media, politics, culture, and technology.
