Karachi: The Sindh High Court has refused to grant an immediate stay against the implementation of e-Challans, following petitions filed by Jamaat-e-Islami, the central Muslim League, bus owners, and citizens.
The court has directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic and other concerned parties to submit their responses. The hearing of the petitions has been adjourned until December 11.
The petitioners’ lawyers argued that there are separate fine structures in Lahore and Karachi, and claimed discriminatory treatment against Karachi. “You cannot compare Karachi with other cities,” the court remarked, adding, “Every city has its own dynamics. Does Karachi really allow for such comparisons?”
The lawyers further stated that bus operators are not allowed to pick up passengers freely, to which the Sindh High Court responded by instructing them to stop buses at designated bus stands. Bus owners countered that Karachi lacks proper bus stands, and Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry noted, “We also live in this city, we know the situation.”
The court observed that after receiving responses from all parties, the cases will be heard collectively.
The petitions highlighted several grievances, including the deteriorated infrastructure of Karachi, broken roads across the city, and the imposition of heavy fines on citizens despite minimal facilities.
They also raised concerns over threats of CNIC blocking under the pretext of e-Challans, calling it a violation of fundamental rights.
The petitioners questioned the legal rationale behind differing penalties in the same country, asking why fines are Rs. 200 in Lahore but Rs. 5,000 in Karachi, while pointing out poor traffic management and inadequate civic facilities across the metropolis.
