A BRADFORD schoolboy has been killed in a hit and run crash in Pakistan after getting a last-minute flight to a family wedding.

Sameer Iqbal's uncle Mehboob Alam said the eight-year-old's tragic death had devastated his family and friends.

Mr Alam, who runs a butcher's shop in Wheater Road, Lidget Green, close to where Sameer lived with his parents and younger brother and sister, said the tragedy happened as another uncle was driving him back from a night-time shopping trip in Shadpour Sadar in the district of Khushab.

Sameer, a pupil at Farnham Primary School, was struck after getting out of the car to follow his uncle who had stopped to check on an overturned car ahead.

Mr Alam said: "There was another man in the front of the uncle's car. He had hold of Sameer's hand trying to stop him getting out but he wanted to go with his uncle. He still had his hand when he got out but in just a couple of steps a speeding car came from behind and just took him.

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"It was dark, there were no street lights. They didn't know where he was. He had been thrown about 80 yards into some bushes. His uncle found him and picked him up but when he got him back to the car there was no breath. He died in his arms."

Relatives rang Sameer's parents Maryam and Zafer Iqbal to break the news of his death and within hours they were on a flight, arriving only a few hours before he was buried after the tragedy last Friday.

Family in Bradford have also been holding three days of prayers at North Side Terrace Mosque in the city.

Mr Alam, said Sameer had been desperate to go to the wedding and it had only been decided the night before he flew that he could go with his grandmother and other family members the next day if they managed to get tickets.

"It was lucky at the time. He was so excited but it's tragic they got the tickets now.

"No-one could believe it when the news came. we still can't believe it today. It is so shocking. we are devastated.

"Sameer was an intelligent, smart boy. He wasn't a naughty kid. He was good at sports and good at school. He was a very good boy."

Richard Edwards, head teacher at Farnham Primary in Horton Grange, said the school was deeply saddened to learn of Sameer's death.

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