Law-breakers beware: If your car isn’t registered, better to keep it home from today

Drive against unfit and unregistered vehicles kicks off from today.

KARACHI: Keep your vehicle’s documents close at hand when plying your vehicle on the city’s thoroughfares as the traffic police are on the lookout for those who are used to taking liberties with the law.

You may get issued a fine ticket or even end up getting your luxury vehicle impounded if your documents are unsatisfactory. The South traffic police are now committed to teach you a lesson without listening to your ‘phone calls’ and paying heed to any references of ‘VIPs’ before fining you.

Before starting the official drive against unregistered vehicles today, the police, accompanied by concerned citizens, conducted a rehearsal exercise on Sunset Boulevard for about 45 minutes, on Monday. They issued tickets of up to Rs500 to over two dozen luxury vehicles for displaying fancy number plates, tinted glasses and those who had not paid the motor vehicle tax.

NGO CTAC, traffic police, Karachi police and the excise and taxation department held a rehearsal drive on Monday. Starting today, these officials will set up pickets across district South to check cars for their registration documents, standardised licence plates and clear windows. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS

Police officials swiftly removed the fancy number plates and tinted glasses without wasting time as the line was longer than expected. The traffic police randomly stopped vehicles bearing fancy and dubious registration plates.

Interestingly, most of the drivers [owners] tried to call their ‘contacts’ to pressurise the police - only this time, their fervent efforts to subdue the officials were in vain. Those in the ‘above-the-law’ line included an advocate, doctors, a government official, several businessmen, a relative of an influential landlord, a minister and a sitting MPA. “Everyone is equal before the law. Issue a ticket even if the vehicle belongs to the Sindh IG,” instructed the South Traffic SP Tanveer Odho. He added that the drive will continue for an indefinite period of time. The traffic police’s top officials, aided by officials of Excise and Taxation department, members of the Citizens Trust Against Crime (CTAC) and Association of Defence Residents, participated in the rehearsal, in order to check for shortcomings and the equipment needed during the official drive.

“We have to check how we can make it work and what we need for the drive,” said DIG Admin Farhat Ali Junejo. “Unregistered vehicles are being used in criminal activities. The campaign will be launched in other districts of Karachi as well,” he added.



“They just disturb gentlemen and can’t take action against those who commit crime and have unregistered vehicles,” retorted an angry owner, Kamran.

“The vehicle belongs to Nadir Magsi,” informed a driver. “So what? Do you have any documents?” When the driver saw his attempt to exert influence wouldn’t work, he responded meekly, “No sir, I don’t have anything.”

“This is property of UAE Consulate,” informed another driver. “No, his documents are fake and the vehicle will be taken to the police station,” replied a police official.

“I am an advocate,” interjected a man when he was told to show his documents. “I forgot them [documents] back at the office,” he replied with a softer tone when no one was ready to heed his threats.

“I am driver of an SP.” The police official suddenly contacted his top official. “Remove its fancy number plate and issue him a ticket,” Odho directed him, asking him not to hesitate even if a top official was present in the vehicle.

The excise and taxation team, aided by their laptops, were present to report to the police whether the vehicle’s tax had been paid or not. “Police will take action according to traffic rules. We are just assisting them,” said an excise and taxation official, Saeed Memon.

“The law enforcing agencies cannot operate without support from the citizens,” commented CTAC’s member Naeem Sadiq. “It is a good step but we have to ensure that common citizens are not disturbed.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2013.