Shalimar Express engine incident: Train driver, assistant and two transgender persons arrested

The arrests came four days after a video showing the two individuals inside the locomotive went viral on social media, raising questions about railway safety and security. (FIR), the incident took place during the night between November 4 and 5, when the Shalimar Express was travelling from Sahiwal to Lahore.

The train driver, identified as Imtiaz, and assistant driver Saqlain Haider allegedly allowed two transgender persons to board the locomotive. The FIR states that both individuals travelled from Sahiwal to Raiwind inside the engine, numbered 9016.

One of them, Ali Ahmed, also known as Hania, reportedly occupied the assistant driver's seat, while the other, Muhammad Ali, also known as Ali Jan, recorded a video during the journey. The footage subsequently circulated widely on social media, drawing attention to how unauthorised individuals had gained access to the train's engine.

Another video, reportedly recorded by the two transgender persons at Yusufwala Railway Station, has also emerged., allowing unauthorised individuals to travel inside the locomotive amounted to a violation of railway regulations and potentially endangered the lives and property of passengers.

The case has been registered under FIR No. 123/26, with Sections 101, 113 and 120 of the Pakistan Railways Act, along with Sections 34 and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, included in the charges. Following the registration of the case, police arrested train driver Imtiaz, assistant driver Saqlain Haider and both transgender persons.

The arrests have also brought renewed attention to the earlier statement issued by a Pakistan Railways spokesperson, who had claimed that the viral footage was edited and described it as fake. The spokesperson had said that the driver and assistant driver were arrested for allowing the two transgender persons to travel inside the engine without tickets and violating railway regulations.

However, the details recorded in the FIR have confirmed that the journey inside the Shalimar Express locomotive did take place, contradicting the earlier claim that the footage was fabricated. Further investigation into the incident has been assigned to the relevant police officer, while legal proceedings against the four arrested individuals are under way.