‘Model’ police getting choosy about violators

Commuters in Islamabad have complained of discriminatory approach in the treatment they receive from the traffic police.

ISLAMABAD: Once considered a prototype for all other law-enforcement bodies, the Islamabad Model Traffic Police has recently come under fire on several fronts. Commuters have lately complained of discriminatory approach in the treatment they receive from the traffic police.

In many instances, drivers claim that they are penalised for a violation, while others committing the same offence are conveniently ignored.

“This does not only make a mockery of the law but is injustice to those already penalised for the mistake,” said Ahmed, who recently went through such an experience.

He was stopped near Super Market in Sector F-6 by a traffic warden and issued a ticket for having blinds on the car windows.

“It was really hot and the removable screens had been put up by my children to protect themselves from the sun,” he said. Nevertheless, he was issued a ticket.

“In the process, three to four cars passed by with permanent tints on their windows, which are actually banned,” he said. Ahmed said that the two officers present at the location did not react, ignoring the vehicles as they passed by.

“Just give me your license, leave others, I am going to issue you a ticket,” replied Sub Inspector Saleem Baig.

On another occasion, Owais Yazdani was on his way to a workshop after his car got smashed by a motorcycle, but the warden stopped him for not having ‘two working headlights’. “My car got hit by a motorcycle while it was parked and I was going to get it fixed and this gentleman stopped me for violating the law,” he said.

“I understand your situation but I will have to penalise you for this,” came the stern reply. “What was worse was that another driver broke the signal at the moment while talking on the cell phone as I was being reprimanded, but I got the ticket and he just zoomed away,” he added.

Owais even asked the warden to stop the car or wireless its number but he said, “Let me deal with you, he has escaped now,” he replied.

Moreover, Mustafa, who commutes daily from F-6 to Rawalpindi expressed the same views. “ITP earned a lot of praise for its impartial approach and efficient service. For some odd reason that is not the case any more.”

“Seat belts, speed limits and motorcycles stunts, nothing is being checked or curtailed with the same vigour. At least not when I am on the road,” he added. The commuters have been expressing their resentment for quite some time over the ‘forced challans’ and ‘change in attitude’ of the personnel. “But the recent lack of will to ensure uniform enforcement of law is of a huge concern,” said Bilal Hakeem, a taxi driver.

A senior ITP official when asked about the issue did not deny its existence. “The wardens can only deal with one person at a time. You cannot expect them to issue fines and have a look out for all other violators simultaneously,” he said. “But in instances where there are more than one at a point, they should not let other violators off,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2010.