The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to multiple respondents in response to a petition challenging the recently enforced e-challan system in Karachi, according to an ARY News report.
The Sindh government had introduced the e-challan system last month to curb traffic violations in the city. The petition, filed by the Markazi Muslim League, contests the system’s legality and fairness.
During the hearing, the SHC directed all respondents — including the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, DIG Traffic, NADRA, and the Excise Department — to submit their replies by November 25. The bench also ordered that the case be combined with other similar petitions already pending before the court.
The plea argues that Karachi’s deteriorating infrastructure and damaged roads make the imposition of heavy fines unfair to citizens. It also claims that the threat of blocking national identity cards over unpaid challans infringes upon fundamental rights.
Furthermore, the petitioner highlighted the stark difference in traffic fines across provinces — noting that while a challan in Lahore costs Rs200, motorists in Karachi are fined Rs5,000 — and questioned how such disparity can exist under the same national legal framework.
The petitioner has urged the court to declare the e-challan system and its “discriminatory fines” unlawful and unjust.
