I HAVE observed the Karachi traffic police harassing citizens, especially on weekends at daytime when the traffic flow is rather low. This provides them more opportunities to intimidate commuters.

They usually stand in a group, and on most occasions, a group of regular policemen, is also there. This allows them to stop motorists and motorcyclists and ‘manage’ things. I have a few proposals. Citizens should be made aware through the media of the challan amount for common traffic infringements through the media, and pamphlets, which should be distributed by the traffic police.

The challan amount should be reduced so that citizens pay them without hesitation. Convenient methods to pay challan should be devised and, on weekends, citizens should be given an option to pay challan to traffic police officers.

Ayaz Farid Farooqi

Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2017