Lahore traffic police's controversial plan to link fines to CNICs, passports faces legal challenge

Lahore's Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi has recommended linking the recovery of pending digital traffic challan dues to essential citizen services, a proposal that has sparked significant controversy. The recommendations, sent to higher authorities, suggest making the issuance of duplicate national identity cards (CNICs), passport renewals, vehicle sales and purchases, and certain police services conditional upon clearing e-challan debts.

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most controversial in the history of the traffic police

This move has been met with strong criticism, with legal experts and police circles deeming it a "blatant violation of constitutional rights" and Supreme Court judgments. A law firm is preparing to challenge the CTO's proposal in the Lahore High Court, arguing that it infringes upon citizens' fundamental rights in an effort to generate revenue or recover outstanding payments.

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blatant violation of the constitutional rights of citizens and the judgments of the Supreme Court.

A spokesperson for the City Traffic Police confirmed that CTO Shirazi proposed a "comprehensive mechanism" to recover pending e-challan payments. The intention is to "tighten the net around e-challan defaulters" by making access to police, CNIC, and passport services contingent on clearing digital challan dues. The proposal has been formally communicated to the DIG Traffic Punjab and the Punjab Information Technology Department (PITB).

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uncalled for proposal that has raised eyebrows among the police circles and legal fraternity.

While the spokesperson suggested that timely recovery of dues would expedite case disposal and increase government revenue while reducing administrative costs, senior lawyer Omais Younis called the proposal "childish and funny." Younis emphasized that the law, as protected by Supreme Court judgments, does not permit such practices, particularly when even a court executing a money decree cannot block a CNIC without explicit legal authorization. He argued that an unadjudicated traffic challan provides an even weaker basis for such a deprivation of rights, referencing Article 10-A's guarantee of fair trial and due process.

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childish and funny