Apps vs taxis: IHC throws ball back to capital’s authorities

IHC directs issuance of ‘speaking order’ within a month, disposes of petition

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday gave the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA), the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) and the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) one month to pass a “speaking order” on a complaint filed by a taxi driver against digital ride-hailing platforms – Careem and Uber.

While directing the authorities to expeditiously decide complaints against the ride-sharing application, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani disposed of the petition.

In his complaint, the taxi driver had contended that none of the authorities in the capital had conducted any hearings on his complaint, forcing him to approach the high court for relief. Hearing his petition, the court had on September 13 issued notices to all respondents including ITA, ITP and PTA.

Justice Kayani directed all the authorities concerned to hear complaints and pass a speaking order on complaints against Careem and Uber within 30 days.

A speaking order is an order that speaks for itself. The order should stand the test of legality, fairness, and reason at all the higher appellate forums. That is, the order should contain all the details of the issue, clear findings, and a reasoned order.

The taxi driver, through his counsel Umer Gillani, had approached the IHC against Careem and Uber stating that the service providers and their agents were violating the legal and regulatory frameworks for motor vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2017.