KKH tragedy exposes traffic failures

The recent fatal road accident on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) near Lady Garden has once again exposed the entrenched weaknesses of Abbottabad's traffic management system, where "corruption", "negligence", and "revenue-driven practices" appear to have eclipsed the basic duty of protecting lives.

According to eyewitness accounts, a 10-wheeler dumper ploughed into a group of schoolchildren attempting to cross the busy highway. Three children, including two sisters, died instantly, while five others sustained critical injuries. All of the victims were from the same family, residents of Banda Phagwarian, a nearby village.

The tragedy has ignited widespread anger against Abbottabad's traffic police, often accused of focusing on revenue collection rather than regulation. Reports suggest that traffic wardens are given mandatory challan quotas, with fines allegedly channelled through a hierarchical distribution system within the department.

Residents also allege that drivers are routinely coerced into paying fines directly in cash to officers, bypassing official mechanisms. This practice not only entrenches corruption but also robs citizens of their legal right to contest penalties in court. Ironically, although challan collection officially falls under a private contractor's remit, this system is frequently ignored.

Tourists are said to be among the frequent victims, with vehicles entering the city often stopped without cause simply to meet targets. Police sources estimate that Abbottabad's traffic ticketing system generates more than Rs10 million a month.

At the same time, heavy vehicles, banned during peak school hours, remain a regular sight on city roads. Locals claim this is made possible through collusion with officials, placing lives directly at risk. In contrast, Pakistan's motorways operate permanent weigh stations and strictly bar overloaded vehicles, while the KKH lacks comparable facilities, making it a preferred route for trucks and dumpers. Although axle-load restrictions exist, enforcement has long been inconsistent, contributing both to accidents and road damage.

Efforts to address the problem have faltered. In 2021, Hazara DIG Mirwais Niaz announced a blanket ban on overloaded trucks from Haripur to Kohistan and Babusar Top, with violators facing vehicle seizure, licence cancellation, and even imprisonment. Yet, in practice, compliance has been patchy.

Friday's incident starkly highlighted the consequences of such failures. Mourners and protesters blamed the traffic police, pointing out that despite the visible presence of wardens along the KKH, heavy vehicles continue to operate during prohibited hours.

"The wardens care more about challans and their share of them than about the safety of our children," said one protester.

Legal experts have echoed these calls for accountability. Advocate Khalid Saeed demanded an FIR under the relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), insisting on a transparent, evidence-based inquiry to assign responsibility not only to the driver but also to negligent officials.

Advocate Malik Saeed Akhtar stressed that traffic chaos stems not only from reckless driving but from weak and selective enforcement. "The police must prioritise managing traffic and ensuring compliance with the law - not chasing fines. Law and order should never be for sale," he argued.