SHC inquires about efforts to curb use of unauthorised plates

Judges note that vendors of fancy number plates were operating freely in the city.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has called for comments by the Sindh home secretary on efforts made to curb the use of unauthorised diplomatic, fancy and Applied for Registration (AFR) number plates on public vehicles roaming around the city.

On Wednesday, SHC Chief Justice Mushir Alam, while heading the bench, passed this direction during the hearing of a suo motu case regarding misuse of the diplomatic and unauthorised fancy and AFR number plates in the city.

Sindh excise and taxation department’s deputy director, Najeed Ahmed Turk, told the judges that the traffic police department had enforced the provisions of the Sindh Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965, adding that the transport department has been entrusted with the administration of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance.

On a query, the director said it could be considered that the imported vehicles are provided number plates before the Customs officials clear them to leave the premises of the Karachi Port Trust.



“It has been observed that a number of the vehicles are plying on the roads without registration or AFR number plates,” noted Justice Mushir. The judges further noted that the vendors of fancy number plates were operating all around the city unchecked, whereas under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, the number plates are supposed to be issued by the excise and taxation department’s motor registration wing.

The officials said that the home department has been authorised to deal with the issue. The judges directed the provincial law officer to call comments from the home secretary by the next date.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.