Karachi Bus Accident Victim Awarded Rs10 Million After 34-Year Legal Battle
A civil court has awarded Karachi bus accident victim Kishan Lal Rs10 million in compensation after a legal battle that lasted more than 34 years. The court found the Sindh government and the bus driver jointly responsible for the 1992 crash. It also ordered them to pay a 15 percent annual markup from the date Lal filed the case until they clear the full amount. The ruling brings long-awaited relief to the victim.
Court holds government and driver responsible
The accident took place on March 9, 1992, near the Akhtar Colony bus stop on Korangi Road. A Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) bus struck Lal while he was crossing the road. Court records showed that the driver operated the bus at excessive speed, drove on the wrong side and ignored traffic rules. As a result, Lal suffered critical injuries. Doctors later amputated his right leg above the knee.
Lal was only 27 years old at the time. He worked as a skilled leather cutter and depended on physical mobility to earn a living. However, the permanent disability greatly reduced his ability to continue his profession. In 1994, he filed a damages suit against the Sindh government and bus driver Mehmood. The Sindh High Court heard the case for years before transferring it to a civil court in 2025 under the Sindh Civil Courts Amendment Act.
Judge considers lifelong impact
Senior Civil Judge South Sher Muhammad Kolachi ruled that both defendants shared legal responsibility for the accident. The judge considered Lal’s permanent disability, medical expenses, reduced earning capacity, pain, mental distress and future hardship before awarding compensation.
The court also recognized the accident’s impact on Lal’s social life, self-esteem, marriage prospects and everyday activities. Furthermore, the judge found that the driver acted recklessly while operating a government-owned bus during his official duties. Therefore, the court held the Sindh government liable for its employee’s negligence and directed both defendants to pay the compensation without further delay. The judgment closed one of Karachi’s longest-running civil compensation cases.
