Lahore High Court halts underage drivers' arrests

Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Aalia Neelum, has ordered Inspector General Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, to immediately halt the arrest of underage drivers for traffic violations.

Justice Neelum said that before taking punitive action, police must launch an awareness campaign to educate families about traffic laws. She also directed that minors found riding a motorcycle or car for the first time should be let off with a warning. If the violation is repeated, however, police may proceed in accordance with the law, she said.

Read More: Reckless teen driver runs over two women in Islamabad while Snapchatting

These orders mark a shift toward prioritising education over punishment in handling cases involving underage driving.

Punjab police’s monthly traffic statistics revealed that road accidents increased by 7.3% in November this year as compared to November 2024. Data reveals that 45,287 road accidents occurred last month, with 489 people losing their lives in crashes. The majority of the accidents – 8,093 – occurred in Lahore, seeing 59 deaths.

On Monday night, a 16-year-old boy in Islamabad ran over two young women on their scooter with his SUV, killing them. The minor was recording a video on his mobile phone while driving his vehicle at high speed.