IHC orders relief for students in M-tag policy

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the administration to give students some kind of relief against the compulsion of M-tags while entering or leaving Islamabad and to not harass them.

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar heard the case against the administrative decision to mandate M-tags. State counsel Abdul Rehman appeared on behalf of the administration while DSP Legal Sajid Cheema was present as the representative for the police.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice remarked that back in their day, there used to be relief and concessions for students. He addressed the State Counsel and asked why they had mandated M-tags. To which the State Counsel replied, "My Lord, M-tags have been mandated to address security lapses like in the case of the Kachehri blast which led to the martyrdom of 12 people and injured 36.

The administration made M-tags compulsory so that vehicles entering or leaving Islamabad could be monitored."

He explained that the Kachehri blast had been carried out by an unchecked motorcyclist, which is why it was important that the administration have access to data about each vehicle using the city's entry and exit points.