Complaints against wardens pile up

Traffic police personnel under fire over excessive penalties, misbehaviour

LAHORE:

Harsh behaviour of traffic police officials with citizens is causing frequent incidents of altercation and protests on the roads in the provincial capital.

Despite orders of Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani, complaints of misbehaviour and excessive issuance of penalty tickets to the drivers continue to be reported.

Instead of keeping striving to maintain a smooth flow of traffic at their points of duty, the wardens appear to be issuing challans to those violating the rules. Such acts often result in altercations witnessed by citizens travelling on the roads.

Drivers allege that the traffic police officials appear more concerned with imposing maximum fine than facilitating the commuters.

A motorcyclist said action was not taken by the senior officers on complaints of misbehavior by wardens.

In the latest incident, traffic wardens misbehaved with a lady doctor on Canal Road in Mughalpura area on Tuesday. People present at the spot also protested over the incident. However, no officer of the department intervened.

The identity card and driving licence of Dr Maida Ali were reportedly seized after challan by the warden on duty, while only one document may be confiscated as per the law.

According to Dr Ali, she was returning home from duty when the warden stopped her, spoke harshly and despite her repeated requests took away her ID card and licence.

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She said wardens were recruited to improve the traffic system and facilitate the citizens but the situation in the city was not improving.

A resident of the provincial capital, Qayyum, said while speaking to The Express Tribune that the citizens were frustrated because of frequent traffic jams as well as derogatory attitude of the traffic police.

Another citizen who drives daily between his home and office said the wardens were often seen talking on phone and sitting on the roadside.

Incidents of altercation between vehicle owners and traffic wardens have been reported across the city in recent months including Gulberg Main Market, The Mall road, Ferozepur Road, Jail Road, Wahdat Road, Shadman, Garhi Shahu, Ichhra, Shahdara and Allama Iqbal Town.

No major action against the personnel involved in the incidents has been reported.

When contacted, DSP Traffic Abdul Ghani said immediate action was being taken against the warden against whom a complaint had been received recently. He said the wardens were regularly briefed on the need for maintaining good manners.

The official said the perception about targets of penalties was wrong, but whoever violated the law faced action.

However, a resident, Akbar Shah, claimed that a larger number of challans had been issued in the city recently. He said the sai ld wardens were revenue collectors and their purpose was to maintain the flow of traffic.

He said action should be taken over misuse of power by any traffic police personnel.

Another commuter said the citizens should be dealt with compassionately as they were already suffering hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on economic activities.

Mian Noman, a public sector employee, said that traffic wardens should instructed that if motorcyclists are travelling with their families ie women and children, they should be allowed to go after a warning over violation of a traffic law.

Citizen Mohammad Yasir Malik said there were certain elements in traffic police aim was to harass and challan commuters.

“Wardens are more focused towards issuing challans rather than improving traffic flow,” he remarked.

Another citizen Babar Shehzad Awan said several traffic wardens have agents and specialists with them who submit challans through EasyPaisa and then take commission from them.

Such incidents are happening on every other square of the city.

Another citizen Rizwan said the wardens stand at barricade near the Punjab Assembly speaker's residence and issue challans to commuters.

“When anyone tries to talk to wardens, they use foul language and respond rudely. They make the citizens stand in scorching heat and humiliate them,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2021.