KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Wednesday moved to the Sindh High Court, submitting a constitutional petition to challenge what it called the “flawed procedure and excessive fines” under the e-challan system.
The petition was filed by JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate, and Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq through advocate Usman Farooq.
The petitioners contended that many vehicle owners were being fined despite not violating any laws, arguing that the system’s shortcomings stemmed from errors in vehicle registration. It also cited poor infrastructure, wrongful traffic diversions due to ongoing construction works, and the lack of parity in fines with other cities.
Speaking to the media after filing the petition, Monem Zafar said that imposing heavy fines on citizens under the e-challan system amounted to “blatant injustice.” He claimed that over 30,000 citizens had been fined within a week, adding, “For the same traffic violation, citizens in Karachi are fined Rs5000, whereas in other parts of the country, the fine is only Rs200. We demand that fines be brought in line with other cities.”
He criticized the Sindh IGP’s recent statement that those who apologized for their first challan would be forgiven. “Why should citizens apologize? It is the Sindh government, the IGP, and the DIG who owe an apology to the people for failing to provide basic facilities while burdening them with heavy fines,” he said.
Citing Article 9 of the Constitution, Monem Zafar said the state was responsible for citizens’ protection and welfare, but the Sindh government had failed in this duty. “The city’s roads are broken, gutters are overflowing, traffic signals are out of order, and lane markings are missing. Under such conditions, imposing heavy e-challans on ordinary citizens is sheer cruelty,” he remarked.
He noted that Karachi, despite being the country’s economic hub, lacked even basic urban services. “There is neither an efficient public transport system nor a proper mass transit network. In 17 years, the Sindh government has introduced only 300 buses for a city of over 35 million people,” he said.
Monem also criticized the delays in transport projects, saying the BRT Red Line had no completion date, the Orange Line had turned into a “scam” against the people of Orangi Town, and the Green Line remained incomplete. “Yet, the government is only concerned with issuing heavy challans,” he added.
He said fines now range from Rs5000 to Rs25,000 for motorcyclists, Rs10,000 to Rs50,000 for car drivers, and up to Rs100,000 for heavy vehicles.
Citing official data, he said 728 people had lost their lives in traffic accidents this year, including 225 deaths caused by heavy vehicles. “Dumpers, trailers, and tankers roam the city freely, even outside designated hours. The tanker mafia operates round the clock, and there is no concept of law enforcement,” he said.
Expressing hope that the court would provide relief to the citizens, Monem Zafar said, “Jamaat-e-Islami will continue its constitutional and democratic struggle against every oppressive policy. It is unacceptable that the city contributing the highest revenue to the national exchequer is treated in this manner.”
He further accused the government of exploiting citizens in the name of number plates, saying that Rs60 billion had been collected over the past five years under motor vehicle taxes without accountability. He demanded a forensic audit to determine how the funds were spent.
Concluding, Monem Zafar reaffirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue to stand with the people of Karachi and oppose all unjust policies, including the e-challan system.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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