Traffic police face graft, harassment allegations

Illegal licence fees, arbitrary fines alleged in Bahawalnagar

BAHAWALNAGAR:

Allegations of corruption, harassment and abuse of authority have surfaced against certain officials of the traffic police in Bahawalnagar district, severely undermining public trust and causing widespread concern among citizens.

Residents allege that hefty illegal sums are being demanded for the issuance of driving licences instead of official fees. According to complainants, amounts of up to Rs6,000 are allegedly charged for motorcycle and car licences, while Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 is demanded for LTV licences, without receipts or legal documentation.

Citizens further complain that traffic personnel at major intersections often resort to abusive language, threats and intimidation, while imposing heavy fines without providing clear reasons or issuing proper challans.

Many allege discriminatory enforcement, claiming that action is mostly taken against motorcyclists, rickshaw drivers and small vehicle owners, while drivers of expensive vehicles are rarely stopped. Owais Aslam, a resident of Manchanabad Chowk, alleged that after missing a signal due to traffic congestion, he was verbally abused by officials.

He further claimed that a traffic official, identified as Ubaidullah, later seized his motorcycle after threatening him with an FIR.

The motorcycle was returned two days later.

Another citizen, Rizwan, alleged that despite having complete documents, he was detained for nearly two hours and asked to pay a Rs10,000 fine without justification.

Other residents, including Alam Ali and Altaf, alleged that vehicles are impounded for "illegal parking" even where no designated parking facilities exist, with cash allegedly collected on the spot instead of issuing challans.

Citizens and civil society representatives say written complaints were submitted to the DSP Traffic and the DPO Bahawalnagar, but no visible departmental action has been taken so far, raising questions about accountability.