ISLAMABAD: Over 400 public figures, including legislators and armed forces officials, were found violating traffic rules over the last six months, and were fined in this regard.

The violations included breaking a red light, speeding, driving without a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving.

Traffic police officials said that as many as 200 army officials, 14 air force officials and six navy officials are amongst the offenders.

In addition, the offenders included five federal ministers, 57 National Assembly members, 31 senators, 10 provincial ministers, 21 Provincial Assembly members, 13 ambassadors, 12 federal secretaries, 40 senior government officers, 18 judiciary officers, 13 senior police officers and 13 journalists.

Complaints were also lodged against 24 Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) officials and departmental action was taken against them.

ITP said that over 407,993 motorists involved in traffic violations had paid a collective fine of Rs100,337,000.

Of the total, 19,394 were fined for breaking red light, 61,877 for violating seatbelt rules, 14,979 for mobile phone use while driving, 43,501 for riding motorcycles without helmets, 2,315 for underage driving, and 15,567 for lane violations.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2014