Road safety: After 49 years, Sindh revises traffic fines

Motor vehicle department transferred from police to transport dept.

KARACHI:

After 49 years, the Sindh Assembly made amendments to the ‘Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965’ to increase the penalties for violating traffic laws.

During the assembly session on Monday, most of the lawmakers had something to add to the debate on traffic rules and suggested imposing heavy fines on the violators. Every vehicle should have insurance coverage and those who violate this rule will have to pay Rs500, was one of the provisions in the amended law.



The bill was moved by Dr Sikandar Mandhro, the parliamentary affairs minister. “A large number of public service vehicles are plying in very poor and unsafe conditions and the existing penalties for violation are very low,” he pointed out. “In order to enhance the existing penalty and to implement the law in its letter and spirit, we are making this amendment.”

Drivers who overload passengers, drive with tinted windows or without fitness certificates, carry unapproved loads of goods, use pressure horns or use unpermitted routes will have to pay Rs1,000 as penalty. For repeating these offences, the drivers will have to pay Rs2,000. People who drive through traffic lights will be fined Rs400 while those who overtake illegally will be charged Rs300.

After the law, the motor vehicles department which used to issue fitness certificates will be moved to the transport department. “All existing officers and examiners working under the motor vehicles department shall stand transferred to the transport department along with budgetary allocations, assets and liabilities,” Mandhro explained.

Talking to The Express Tribune, transport minister Mumtaz Jakhrani said various departments were dealing with the transport issue but they were reluctant when it came to managing the transport system. “We had no power to issue fitness certificates,” he pointed out. “The motor vehicle department, which was under the police, was non-functional but now we will do this job.”

Monday’s assembly session started with speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in chair. The Hindu MPAs brought up the issue of attack on Hindu temples. Nand Kumar of Pakistan Muslim League - Functional said the targeted attack at the Tharparkar temple was nothing more than a conspiracy to ignite communal violence. “Please expose the hands behind it and take action against those who are responsible,” he requested. Information minister Sharjeel Memon told him the men behind the Thar attack have been arrested.

Rape cases

Earlier, the issue of the recent rape cases in Karachi and other districts also came under discussion. The members demanded making DNA testing mandatory and worthy as prime evidence in these cases. The leader of the opposition, Faisal Subzwari, diverted the attention of the House towards minor girls and boys who are subjected to sexual assault. “Let us join hands against this menace and bring amendments to the law,” he said, adding that rapists are being released within hours and days as people failed to produce four witnesses.

Dr Mandhro endorsed Subzwari’s idea and said the government had already introduced a bill on this issue. “We will not accept the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology and want to bring a law on this issue, making DNA testing mandatory,” he said.

Encroachment: ‘Beggars’ home occupied by police

The lawmakers of the provincial assembly, who have always demanded more powers for the law enforcers, were in a shock when they found out that police personnel have illegally occupied a building in Korangi meant to be a beggars’ home.

The issue was raised during Monday’s session when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Dr Seema Zia, in her call-attention notice, asked the government about the fate of children abused by beggars.

MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed called the attention of the House towards the beggars’ home. “A land of 27 acres was allotted for beggars in Korangi.” He added that, despite a number of complaints, the police are not willing to relinquish the space.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2014.