Two Mayo family members killed and three injured in Pakistan road collision

Two members of a Mayo family have been fatally injured in road traffic accident in Pakistan.

Three other family members were injured in the collision involving a car and a bus which occurred yesterday near the city of Samundri Tehsil, located in the Faisalabad district of the province of Punjab.

The family members who lost their lives have been named in the Pakistan media as 55-year-old Nasreen (Noreen) Shafiq and her 18-year-old son, Umar.

Injured in the crash were Nasreen's husband, Shafique, and other family members Tahime and Ambreen, the three of whom have been receiving treatment in hospital.

The Shafiq family were visiting Tariqabad, Faisalabad, and were travelling to Gojra in their car when the accident occurred.

The community of Ballinrobe, where the Shafiq family have resided for over 15 years, has been left shocked and stunned by the tragedy.

Pakistan Point News is reporting that a bus owned by private company collided with a car coming from the opposite direction on the roadway.

Local Councillor Damian Ryan said the town is numbed and deeply saddened by the devastating news.

He stated "The family is well known and respected locally and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to them on their immeasurable loss.

"Umar had just completed his Leaving Cert at Ballinrobe Community School a number of weeks ago and he played for Ballinrobe Town since the age of eight or nine.

"A dark cloud has been cast over the town as a result of this terrible, terrible tragedy.

"The family have asked for privacy at this time and their wishes should be respected."

Councillor Michael Burke has also joined in extending condolences to the Shafiq family.

"The community will rally around and support them in every way possible. It's heartbreaking beyond words," he added.

The oratory at Ballinrobe Community School has been opened for students wishing to visit it for silent prayer.

Ballinrobe Town FC has expressed sympathies to the Shafiq family and the club's fixtures have been postponed by the Mayo Football League this weekend as a mark of respect.

The club has sent out messages to the younger players who knew Umar well, offering access to supports to help them cope with the loss.

Umar was very popular within the club and he was named as goalkeeper on the Helen Johnson Mayo Under-18 Division Two Team of the Year in 2023.

He also represented Mayo at under-age level on a number of occasions.

A tribute on the club's Facebook page stated: "It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of our club member Umar Shafiq and his mother Nasreen in a tragic accident while on a family holiday in Pakistan.

"We are absolutely heartbroken for the entire Shafiq family and friends as well as all Umar's teammates and coaches who held Umar in such high regard.

"Not only was Umar an outstanding goalkeeper who represented the club from Under-10 s all the way to the senior team but he also represented Mayo at various levels.

"While Umar was still on the under 18 squad he had become an important member of our senior squads and was regularly in goals for our Junior B team as well as being a part of our Super League team making his debut earlier this season away to Conn Rangers.

"All Umar's teammates many of whom came through the underage section of the club with Umar are devastated with this sudden and tragic loss of their friend and we ask the community also rally round to support them too.

"Everybody who knew Umar both within our club, the Ballinrobe community and the wider Mayo Football family as evidenced by the massive numbers of messages of sympathy we have received knew Umar as a lovely young gentleman who always had a positive outlook on things.

"We will miss our great friend who was always so enthusiastic, upbeat and an absolute pleasure to be around. Umar, we will never forget you.

"The club along with Ballinrobe Community School are actively working with the family to look at how we as a community can pay our respects in due course and will share information as and when we can.

"We would ask everybody to respect the privacy of the Shafiq family at such a difficult time."

Another post by the club stated: "We will miss you dear friend, we won't forget you. Along with this great community, we stand with your family as they come to terms with losing you and your wonderful mother Noreen."