Grieving victims

Abu Dhabi: A three-year-old girl was waiting for March 20 to see her father, but that will not happen.

Mohammad Salib Khan, 29, a Pakistani bus driver, was killed in Tuesday's horrific pile-up in Ghantoot. He was ferrying labourers from Musaffah to Jebel Ali in Dubai when the crashes occurred.

His distraught father, Sahib Nawaz Khan, 57, who has been in the UAE for 35 years and driving heavy vehicles, for 30 of those years, told Gulf News yesterday that his son was not a rash driver. “I will not blame rash driving or the weather for the crash. God gave me my son. This is my destiny.

“I have not informed anyone about his death back home because the family is eagerly anticipating his return. My younger son and I will accompany the body home. This was not the way it was meant to be. I can't imagine what will happen when his mother, sister and wife see his body.''

Khan said Mohammad had booked his ticket to go back to Pakistan to visit his family, which lives near Peshawar. “He had not seen his daughter Alina for two years. The last time he saw her was when she was one. He was longing to go home because my granddaughter has started speaking. He has only one child. Mohammad had done his shopping and even borrowed money from me to spend.''

Mohammad was living in the UAE for 10 years and had visited his family in Pakistan only once after he got married four years ago.

“I don't have words to describe my grief,'' said Mohammad's younger brother, Sorab Khan, who lives in Musaffah with his father.

Zaheedullah Khan, Mohammad's friend and roommate, said he was a jovial person and very popular with the Pakistani community in Musaffah. “The large number of people who have gathered today to condole is testimony to how popular Mohammad was. He will be deeply missed. He was such a safe driver. I cannot believe that this has happened to him.'' Ruhallah Khan, an elderly community member, said Mohammad was much loved.

The Pakistani Embassy said they will fly the body free of charge on Pakistan International Airlines. Tickets of Mohammad's father and brother will also be paid, said Dr Shehzad Thaheem, Community Welfare Attache at the embassy.

A Sudanese family was also grieving yesterday. Abdul Monem, 55, an engineer was killed in the crash, said his brother-in-law, Eisam Al Terefi.

Distraught family members were praying outside the Central Hospital Morgue. Al Terefi said: “We are too shocked to speak. All the paperwork has been completed. We will bury him here.''