| Driving all over the law, without looking.. |
| Tuesday, 22 July 2008 | |
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A large number of reports on the use of illegal number plates such as AFR 2008, MPA, Minister, Protocol and others have been published in the local newspapers but such vehicles continue to roam in all parts of the city, flouting the law openly. What is even more frustrating is the fact that this trend continues to thrive while the traffic police play the role of silent spectators, letting the offenders go unpunished. It is disappointing to note that the present government is seemingly too busy in availing VIP protocol rather than addressing public issues. During the last couple of months, I have observed hundreds of vehicles with illegal number plates, violating traffic laws in the name of protocol by displaying their party flag or self-made number plate with the party flag painted on it. Last night I was on my way to meet a relative when my car broke down near Malir 15, where I noticed a vehicle with tinted glasses bearing AFR 2008 instead of a registration number. On top of that irregularity, the driver had also applied another round plate on top of the first one with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) flag painted on it and MPA written on it. These number plates have become a normal sight for the common man. On my way to work I observe at least one such vehicle if not more almost every day. For example, yesterday I came across a vehicle bearing ‘PROTOCOL’ instead of a registration number, escorted by a police mobile. I was not surprised since one finds plenty of these vehicles with either no number plate or an illegal one parked outside the Sindh Secretariat. Similar vehicles can also be seen entering the Sindh Assembly, Chief Minister House, and Governor House along with discovering them in specific parts of the metropolis. Traffic police should be criticised for allowing these vehicles to roam around scott-free with no penalty against such violations, which include confiscation of vehicle and arrest of the driver. However, given the kind of system we have it should not surprise the citizens if a policeman lets such a vehicle get away without punishment. It is also because of these influential individuals that policemen are afraid of taking action for the fear of losing their job. I once inquired an ASI what happens if police does take action and book the offender. He told me that upon stopping an influential person, they immediately make calls to their relevant contacts to pressurise the police due to which they have to leave the offender. Though, if they do book the culprit and issue a challan, the officer has to pay it from his own pocket if the offender proves to be an influential person. It is frustrating that these so-called politicians and leaders who beg votes from the poor have become used to travelling in luxurious vehicles and do not like any one stopping them, even if they violate traffic laws. Hurting public interest further is the fact that instead of stopping these ministers and their relatives from using such number plates, the police provide them with security. Citizens are without a good transport system, despite waiting for hours in long queues people don’t get flour, prices of essential commodities have crossed their limits, almost every one in the city has been a victim of street crime and under this kind of situation the Sindh government is claiming to have performed the best during the last three months. Who are they trying to fool? People today are aware of everything that is happening in the country and the time is not far when the same people will take to the streets and lodge an anti-government movement. And when that happens, it will be difficult for the present government to cope up with the situation then. |
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