Karachi, Pakistan (HRNW) — The Sindh High Court (SHC) conducted a hearing regarding various petitions filed against the E-Challan system in Karachi, issuing stern remarks on the state of traffic lawlessness and the technical flaws within the current penalty framework.
During the proceedings, counsel for heavy vehicle owners argued that the current system unfairly targets vehicle owners by blocking their National Identity Cards (CNICs) for traffic violations. The lawyer contended that, according to the law, penalties should be registered against the driver’s license and CNIC, not the owner of the vehicle.
The court noted the following complications raised by the petitioners:
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Penalties and fines are currently being imposed on vehicle owners regardless of who was behind the wheel.
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Many vehicles are registered in the names of banks (leasing), making it impossible to identify the actual individual responsible for a violation.
Court’s Observations on Public Safety
Justice Saleem Jessar expressed deep concern over the behavior of drivers on the road. He remarked that people often fail to stop at red lights even for a second and frequently cause fatal accidents—such as running over people sleeping on pavements—while distracted by mobile phones.
Key remarks from Justice Jessar included:
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Accountability: “The person driving the vehicle must be the one to face the punishment and the fine”.
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Institutional Limits: He noted that while the police cannot be present everywhere, it is the collective responsibility of society to follow the law.
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Proposed Amendments: The court indicated it would issue directives regarding necessary amendments to the law to ensure the actual offender is penalized.
Taxation and Fines
When the petitioner’s counsel argued that the heavy fines imposed by the government are difficult for ordinary citizens to pay, Justice Jessar questioned the tax contributions of the petitioners, asking rhetorically what more the government is expected to do.
The court directed that copies of the Sindh Government’s formal response be provided to the petitioners’ lawyers and adjourned the hearing until January 27.
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