Karachi's invisible traffic police: The 'misfits' who moonlight as riders, home cooks to survive

Refusing bribes comes at a cost, honest officers live on two rotis and a pickle

A man got out of a Bykea ride and gave the rider a fifty-rupee note in addition to the fixed fare – a tip for the rider. This is a common sight, but in Karachi's Scheme 33 area, it became significant when I noticed the rider's trousers.

They were white – the type usually worn by traffic police officers or Pakistan Navy personnel. Looking closely, I noticed a white uniform shirt peeking out from under his shirt, along with a reflective jacket worn at night.

Traffic police officers are notorious for taking bribes from citizens, with videos of them taking money from drivers frequently surfacing. "For the first time today, I felt happy giving money to a traffic police officer. I've given money before too, but that was out of compulsion," said the passenger who had just disembarked.

My curiosity about this officer grew, and I began talking to him. As long as he didn't know I was a journalist, he spoke openly. The moment I introduced myself, he nervously said, "Brother, I don't want to get into any trouble or face the anger of my seniors." Saying this, he kicked his motorcycle to start it and tried to leave.

Upon repeated assurances and the promise that if any officer got upset over the interview, I would speak to them myself, the traffic police officer, Khursheed, finally agreed to talk.

The reason he drives Bykea while being a traffic police officer is simple: it's difficult to make ends meet. After finishing his duty, he works on Bykea until night. It helps him earn enough for daily groceries and motorcycle fuel.

Many traffic police officers drive Bykea, Khursheed revealed. Some know about each other, and some hide it because they're afraid of what people will say. "I don't care about people. I have to pay my rent every month – people won't pay it for me. We traffic police officers aren't as bad as people think, we're just more defamed," he said.

Despite the widespread perception of corruption, Khursheed insisted he doesn't need to take any 'extra income' and survives within his earnings. “Just like many officers take bribes, there are many who don't take them at all,” he said.

The system that punishes honesty

In the traffic police, having three stars on the shoulder means the officer is eligible to be appointed as the Section Officer of any traffic section. In district police, it means the officer can become a Station House Officer.

I met one such officer who was upset because his two days' salary – a total of eleven thousand rupees – had been deducted. He was trying to get the deduction reversed. When I asked why such a small amount worried him, he replied, "a ten-thousand-rupee cut means my entire monthly budget collapses."

His career progression was blocked because he didn't take bribes. "People like us don't fit into this system. Good postings only go to officers who play by the system. They keep people like me away from it." To manage his expenses, he and his wife started cooking food at home for delivery – the wife cooks, and their son delivers.

There are many such officers and personnel in the Karachi Traffic Police who are considered "misfits" because they don't participate in the system of collecting bribes and sending shares upwards. You'll often find such officers managing traffic on the roads.

While looking for them, I found a two-star Sub-Inspector. I asked him how much he earns daily to which he opened the bag hanging from his shoulder, took out a small plastic shopping bag, handed it to me, and said, "this is my earning." When I opened it, I found two homemade rotis and a bit of pickle. The Sub-Inspector said, "I bring roti from home, get a cup of tea from a stall, spend the whole day controlling traffic, and in the evening, I start my motorcycle and go home. The next day, it's the same routine."

Khursheed still has many years of service left in the traffic police, but the officers with three stars and those with two stars will complete their service this year and retire.