The Islamabad High Court has ordered that no immediate FIR (case) be registered against citizens for not having a driving license and directed that citizens be fined first for failing to show their license.
According to details, Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar of the Islamabad High Court heard a petition challenging the deadline set for the arrest of unlicensed drivers and the seizure of their vehicles.
During the hearing, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Islamabad Hamza Humayun appeared before the court. The Chief Justice remarked that it is clear that a case can be registered only in cases of negligent or reckless driving.
He further stated that if someone drives without a license and an accident occurs, Section 302 can be applied. “If you don’t have the original license, then show its photocopy,” he added.
The CTO Islamabad stated that so far, the traffic police have not registered any case against any citizen for not possessing a driving license.
At this, the Chief Justice remarked that registering cases against those without licenses would create a stigma for citizens, as once a case is registered, it becomes part of their criminal record.
Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar further observed that more than 75 years have passed since Pakistan was founded, yet people still do not understand the importance of keeping a driving license.
He restrained the traffic police from registering cases against citizens for not having a license, stating that humans can make mistakes, but there is no room for mistakes in the law. “No immediate FIR should be registered against any citizen,” he ordered.
The court disposed of the petition after directing that citizens who fail to show their licenses should be fined instead.
