KARACHI: The traffic police on Tuesday informed the Sindh High Court that traffic laws violators had been fined over Rs70 million across the city during the current year.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi was hearing a petition against the entry of heavy traffic into the city during the peak hours.

The petition was filed by Rana Faizul Hasan, a civil rights campaigner and secretary general of the United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

On Tuesday, a report was submitted before the bench on behalf of the DIG of traffic police.

The report said that restrictions on heavy traffic were into effect on all major arteries and streets including M.A. Jinnah Road, Sharea Faisal, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shahrah-i-Liaquat, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and Club Road.

It said that the authorities concerned were approached for appointment of 5,000 personnel in 2013, but no response had yet been received.

The report said that there was an increase in traffic laws’ violations due to absence of public transport in the city.

It further said that there were only 2,188 officers in the traffic police who were working in two shifts.

The report said that over 1,000 more officers were needed to regulate traffic in the city.

The bench directed the traffic police to submit its report regarding the movement of heavy traffic in the city and put off the hearing to Nov 27.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014