Sindh High Court Rejects Plea for Stay Order Against Karachi’s E-Challan System

Karachi: The Sindh High Court has rejected requests for an immediate stay order against the newly introduced e-challan system in Karachi, dismissing petitions filed by political parties, transport owners, and citizens.

During the hearing, the court sought responses from DIG Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah and other officials, adjourning the proceedings until **December 11**.

The petitioners argued that traffic fines in Karachi were significantly higher than those in Lahore, amounting to discriminatory treatment. However, the court dismissed this argument, remarking that **each city has different conditions and requirements**, making such comparisons inappropriate.

The petitioners’ lawyer further contended that bus owners were not even allowed to pick up passengers. The court responded by stating that buses should stop only at designated stands. When the lawyer pointed out the lack of proper bus stands in the city, the court acknowledged Karachi’s civic challenges but said it would hear the matter comprehensively after receiving replies from all relevant departments.

The petitions have named the Chief Secretary Sindh, provincial government, Sindh IG, DIG Traffic Police, NADRA, Excise Department, and other agencies as respondents, claiming that heavy fines have become a tool for revenue generation rather than regulation.

The controversy follows the Sindh government’s launch on **27 October** of the AI-powered **Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS)**, under which nearly **30,000 e-challans** were issued within one week for violations such as seatbelt non-compliance, helmet absence, and tinted windows—amounting to fines in the millions.

While several citizens and political groups have criticized the system, some acknowledge improvements, noting that vehicles now stop at designated lines at signals and helmet usage among motorcyclists has increased.