Traders’ association demands demolition of ‘illegal’ traffic police booths

KARACHI: The association of small traders has demanded the demolition of traffic police booths set up on footpaths as part of the anti-encroachment drive.

Atiq Mir, the chairperson of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, said on Monday that traffic booths had become bribery spots, while the lifting of cars in the name of wrong parking had become an industry. “Black sheep among the traffic police personnel took millions of rupees in fines and bribery from citizens during the Eid season,” he said, terming the situation bad for business.

Due to problem of traffic and parking, trade activities have been adversely affected, he said. He demanded the appointment of able and responsible officials in the traffic police department. He also cited the worse performance of traffic police in Ramadan as traffic police were turned into uniform looters.

Mir also appealed the Chief Justice of Pakistan to order the demolition of illegal traffic police booths established on footpaths, roads and parks, like the shops of traders that were abolished on the Supreme Court’s orders. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2019.