RAWALPINDI: A traffic warden who allegedly fined scores of commuters for violations using a fake challan book, and used the fines he collected to repay his personal debts, was held after being booked under police order 2002.

Imran Munawar had been performing his duty at the Race Course crossing, not far from where he was booked at the Traffic Police Headquarters on Peshawar Road. He was found allegedly using a fake challan book to fine commuters for violating the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, and had collected a large sum.

A spokesperson for the city traffic police said the suspect had confessed to scamming hundreds of commuters because he was in debt and had planned to repay his debts using a fake book.

After a departmental inquiry, City Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Sardar Ghias Gul ordered the registration of a case under the police order against the warden, who was subsequently arrested and imprisoned.

Since Dr Gul was appointed CTO, he has devised a plan to streamline traffic in the city and ensure the presence of traffic wardens at their duty points. He said the presence of wardens at their duty points would ensure that traffic flows smoothly.

The CTO has also started to look into the use of police vehicles, including dozens of motorcycles, which have been left to rust in the open air for a long time.

“In the first phase, all the traffic wardens will be made active in the field and police vehicles, functional. Later, I shall look into other issues, such as the influence of the transport mafia,” he said.

While inspecting police vehicles, the CTO directed the concerned departments to have the motorcycles repaired and maintain records of fuel issued to traffic wardens in the logbook.

“If anybody tries to tamper with the mileage record and fuel, he will face strict departmental action as well as legal proceedings,” Dr Gul said.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2016