Police to impound all vehicles with illegal number plates

Campaign started after Supreme Court's directives to act against all drivers flouting traffic rules

KARACHI: Karachi's streets are teeming with vehicles bearing fancy registration plates. Some of these simply state the fact that they have 'applied for registration' while others go for more extravagant looks, with foreign number plates having become a hot favourite in the last few years.

The traffic rules, with regards to these registration plates, are openly flouted, not just by ordinary citizens, but more commonly by the very lawmakers who legislate these laws in the assemblies.

In the past, all efforts by the police against these car owners have gone in vain due to the lack of interest by senior officials. There are plenty of shops and even whole markets in Karachi where anyone can easily get these number plates for a nominal charge.

On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the relevant departments to impound the unregistered, fancy, foreign number-plated vehicles. "No unregistered vehicle should be allowed to ply on the roads." The bench also ordered the seizure of noisy motorcycles that run without silencers.



Following the direction, the Karachi police, in collaboration with the traffic police and excise department, have started a campaign to round up all such vehicles. This time, the senior officials have ordered their subordinates to conduct the campaign without any fear of retribution.

During the latest drive, the police claim to have impounded over 150 vehicles from various parts of the city, including Defence Housing Authority, Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar and Federal B Area. The figure is expected to rise even higher by Sunday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2015.