any citizens are complaining about the traffic police’s on-going enforcement drive. Some say that the drive is aimed at generating revenue for the government under the pretext of enforcing traffic laws.

The Traffic Police have also introduced enhanced penalties. These range from heavy fines to registration of FIRs and arrests for violating traffic rules and regulations.

Impounded vehicles, particularly motorcycles, are seen parked next to many police stations.

Reports suggest that around 70 percent of the people arrested have been bike riders.

Commotion at police stations is a frequent sight these days. Parents and guardians of underage drivers are visiting police stations as well as courts.

Some of the parents say the government has erred in registering criminal cases against their children. They fear that this record can have long-term consequences including loss of access to education, employment, social mobility and other opportunities.

These parents have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to adopt a compassionate approach towards young violators of traffic rules.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum too has expressed concern over the arrest of underage drivers. She has restrained Dr Usman Anwar, the Inspector General of Punjab Police, from arresting juvenile first time offenders.

Justice Neelum has said that an awareness campaign should be launched first before action is initiated against underage drivers. She has directed that minors driving motorcycles or cars for the first time should be issued a warning. Stricter action may be taken only against repeat offenders.

Speaking to The News on Sunday, Chief Traffic Officer Athar Waheed, says the drive has been intensified on the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Waheed says that the chief minister has ordered strict enforcement of the reformed traffic regulations. Under her direction, he says, a modern traffic management system across the province is being implemented.

“We are enforcing traffic laws across the board. A large number of government-owned vehicles, including those of some senior police officers and bureaucrats, have also been issued fine tickets; some have been impounded. A vehicle belonging to the chief minister’s squad, too, has been fined for a traffic violation.”

Official data of the crackdown by the traffic police across the Punjab speaks of the scale of the drive. So far, the police have impounded 15,814 vehicles, including motorcycles and rickshaws, for repeated violations and issued 50,480 tickets for over Rs 63 million in fines.

“The suggestion that the traffic police are taking action only against the poor is baseless,” he says. “Also, the traffic police do not directly benefit from the revenue resulting from fines. The money goes directly to the government.”

“Everyone found violating traffic rules is being dealt with in accordance with the law,” says the CTO.

Waheed says there is no truth in the allegation that the Lahore Traffic Police have rounded up a large number of teenagers. Actually, the number is low compared to some other districts of the province, he says.

“We are working on amendments to the Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969, in the second stage to provide juvenile permits to youngsters at the age of 16.”

“Our objective is clear: we want the society to respect traffic rules and regulations. If some people are not ready to change or mend their ways, it’s on them.”

Official data of the crackdown by the traffic police across the Punjab speaks of the scale of the drive. So far, the police have impounded 15,814 vehicles, including motorcycles and rickshaws, for repeated violations and issued 50,480 tickets for over Rs 63 million in fines.

Additionally, 3,511 smoke-emitting vehicles have been fined and 384 impounded. Fitness certificates of three vehicles have been seized.

Rashid Khan, a resident of Mughalpura, whose son was arrested by the Traffic Police on The Mall, says that traffic violation can be addressed by a fine. He says youngsters should be let go on account of their age and nature of violation. “I was made to spend the whole night outside the police station as my son was in the lock-up.”

Khan says the traffic warden concerned became angry when his son argued against the challan and sent the youngster to the lock-up and impounded his bike. Khan says that traffic violations should not result in youngsters being punished like criminals.

“My son was kept behind bars with hardened criminals. One of them had been arrested on a murder charge and three others for drug trafficking.”

Lambasting the police, Razia Butt, a government servant and resident of Gulberg, says that senior police officers are misinforming the chief minister. She says that while preparing proposals for the drive, the police high-ups had suggested that the registration of FIRs was the only way to regulate traffic and ensure that rules are followed.

The writer is a print and broadcast journalist.