Islamabad: A man Pakistan claimed was an Indian national allegedly stole a railway engine and tried to drive it into a passenger train near Karachi in order to cause a major accident.
The man's apparent target was a passenger train which was on the same track before it was diverted, officials said, adding at the time Farid Express and Karakoram Express were approaching Karachi.
Railway officials said two Muslims, who were employees of the railways and a Hindu called Madan Lal were held for the incident, which they termed a "terrorist" act aimed at causing a major train accident.
The man identified as Lal, however, denied he was an Indian national but railways officials in Karachi said that he came from India as he carried no identity papers.
When contacted by PTI, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam declined to comment on the incident.
According to railway authorities, a railway engine parked at marshalling yard of the Port Qasim station in Karachi was found missing, which was later traced to be taken to the city. The officials informed the police control about it.
Railways staff tried to stop the engine at Landhi railway station but the engine driver didn't respond to the signal.
Railway men sparked off crackers to warn the engine driver but the driver still didn't stop, Geo TV quoted railway officials as saying.
"The man driving the engine tried to flee from the scene but was captured immediately," it said.
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