Court to Hear Petition on Free Provision of Ajrak-Themed Number Plates on July 14

Karachi: The Sindh High Court will hear a petition on July 14 seeking the free provision of Ajrak-themed number plates to citizens. The petition, filed by social activist Faizan Hussain, challenges the provincial government’s decision to replace old number plates, claiming that it is causing undue hardship for low-income citizens.
The petition highlights that under the Sindh government’s new directive, vehicles without the new number plates will be seized. The petitioners argue that citizens had already paid for their old number plates, which were issued by the government, and should not be penalized for the switch to the new design. The petition demands that the new number plates be provided free of charge, as the old ones were also issued by the government.
Additionally, the petition alleges that traffic police and the motor vehicle department have turned the issuance of new number plates into a business, charging citizens for them and making them wait for months. The petition also claims that citizens are being unnecessarily harassed by the traffic police over the lack of new number plates.
The petition requests the court to order the issuance of free new number plates to citizens and to halt fines and vehicle seizures. The Secretary of Excise and Taxation, the Motor Vehicle Registration Wing, and the DIG Traffic have been named as respondents in the case.