On Monday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed relevant authorities to provide their responses concerning petitions challenging the e-challan system. The hearing revealed a notable absence of replies from several senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary, Secretary of Local Government, Director General of Karachi Development Authority (KDA), and the Mayor, with only the Transport Department having submitted input so far.
During the proceedings, lawyer Tariq Mansoor, advocating for public interest in Karachi, highlighted that the applications pertain to public safety but are currently considered inadmissible due to lack of official responses. Meanwhile, the Transport Department’s legal representative stated that since the e-challan system’s implementation, traffic accidents have decreased by 40 percent. The department also pointed out a sharp increase in fines, noting that penalties in 2023 have surged between one thousand and five thousand percent compared to earlier rates.
In a significant development, Mansoor stressed the socio-economic challenges faced by citizens, emphasizing that with minimum wages around Rs40,000 and widespread unemployment, the current fines imposed through the e-challan system are financially burdensome for many ordinary people.
Consequently, the court has issued fresh notices to the Chief Secretary, Secretary of Local Government, DG KDA, and the Mayor, instructing them to submit their responses by May 7. This step is crucial to ensure the continuation of the legal proceedings related to the e-challan system.
