ATTOCK, Nov 14: Vehicles without registration numbers and license plates, especially motorcycles and rickshaws, pose serious security threats to the district, and account for revenue loss to the national exchequer since no registration fee is paid.  

The district administration had warned of strict action against vehicles without registration numbers in the wake of Muharram security, but no steps have been taken so far to check the open violation.

Hundreds of such vehicles roam freely at every main road of Attock. Most criminals use vehicles without number plate to avoid any legal action against them. Therefore, the use of such vehicles is a criminal act and a serious violation of traffic rules.

Many of these vehicles have “Applied for” or some other sign instead of the number plate.  This practice exacerbated after the establishment of vehicle rent businesses in many cities, which illegally provide motorcycles without licence numbers to the people.

These rented motorbikes are without number plates so that riders cannot be identified in case of traffic violation, and is the main reason why riders disregard the law.

The “Applied for” display is sometimes placed to avoid any legal action, which is the worst violation of traffic rules and regulations.

The motorbike rent business also allows underage youngsters to perform wheeling by offering them motorbikes without registration numbers. These youngsters speed around the city, causing accidents and inconvenience to pedestrians and vehicles alike.

The government had instructed its agencies to adopt fool proof security measures in every district, especially by checking the movement of all vehicles without number plates, which are often used by terrorists.

The district administration and the excise department have been asked to take prompt action to check the violation to avoid any untoward incident and ensure law and order in the district.

When contacted, the excise and taxation officer Attock, Mohammad Ali Naveed, said he had held a meeting with the district police and had decided to launch a joint operation against such vehicles. He said 80 vehicles had so far been impounded and no lax attitude is being shown. He added that such vehicles led to revenue loss to the department since no registration fee was paid for them.