Wardens challenge CTO's 'daily fine' orders

The City Traffic Officer (CTO) has reportedly ordered all traffic wardens to issue fines of Rs2,000 each to at least 15 motorcyclists daily for any traffic violation, including not wearing a helmet. This directive has sparked a legal dispute between the traffic wardens and officers, with many questioning its legality.

Sources told The Express Tribune that CTO Farhan Aslam fined 61 wardens a total of Rs122,000 for failing to meet these targets. The wardens have been issued show-cause notices and summoned to the police station Friday (today) at 3pm, with a warning that strict action will follow if they fail to appear.

In response, lawyer Raja Ahsan has sent a legal notice to CTO Farhan Aslam on behalf of the traffic wardens, stating that if the allegedly illegal orders and fines are not revoked within seven days, constitutional petitions and compensation cases will be filed in the High Court.

Traffic wardens argue that over 99% of motorcyclists are now wearing helmets, making it impossible to issue fines under the current directive. They claim the order effectively forces them to issue fines regardless of compliance and described it as an unlawful attempt to extort money from the public. The dispute has created significant tension between traffic officers and wardens, with many refusing to implement