LAHORE, Jan 9: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool inaugurated on Wednesday the ticket system for traffic violations with a warning to traffic policemen to implement the law without any discrimination and treat people with respect.

“I will not tolerate in disrespect of people even if they violate traffic rules,” the governor said after inaugurating the new system at Regal.

The governor told the traffic police authorities and the IGP that “your men have beaten up a young man for rash driving and I have taken a serious notice of the incident.” He directed the authorities to dismiss policemen responsible for the manhandling, warning that he would sternly deal with any such event in future.

Moments before the governor’s warning to the police, the Lahore SSP and his staff firmly but politely disallowed most of reporters from going inside the traffic police office where the governor was being briefed about the new system.

Only a couple of reporters managed to go inside the office to record the event despite a police cordon. When the SSP was asked that he was preventing the other reporters from performing their duties, he said: “There is not much space in the office. The DGPR is taking notes and he will let you know afterwards.” Reporters were finally allowed entry on the intervention of the DGPR.

Traffic on The Mall continued despite the presence of the governor there.

Besides Lahore, the ticket system has also been introduced in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan. The DIG Traffic said it would also be implemented in the other cities of the Punjab in a month.

Fines ranging from Rs0 to Rs300 could be deposited with the nearest branch of the National Bank of Pakistan within 10 days of the issuance of the ticket by an officer not less than the rank of an ASI.

The governor asked the traffic police authorities to engage the private sector for issuance of roadworthiness certificates to vehicles and driving licences so that people could start believing their authenticity.

He also directed them to ensure first aid to victims in road accidents and arrange for their shifting to hospitals by ambulances. The traffic police should immediately reach the spot of a road accident with modern equipment and ambulances to provide relief to the people, he said. The governor asked the traffic police authorities to detail smart policemen on roads. They should be given neat and presentable uniform and “there is no problem of funds from my side.” he said.

He said the traffic police should also provide relief to people even if there was a road accident at night. “You should also check overspeeding at night,” he said.

The governor said people whose vehicles were lifted for wrong parking should be informed about the action to save them from the inconvenience of locating them.

He said the province was on the way to modernize public facilities, asking Lahore Nazim Amer Mahmood, who was also present there, to arrange for proper public lavatories in Lahore. The Nazim said the system of lifting wrongly parked cars had been streamlined to save people from inconvenience.

The governor said the traffic police system should be excellent and he had already announced a grant of Rs3.5 million for new vehicles and other necessary equipment. The funds to be collected from the traffic challans should be shared with the city government to improve the conditions of roads.

Later, the governor was taken to the Regal Chowk for the inspection of the newly-fixed cat’s eyes around the zebra crossing.

The governor refused office-bearers of the Hall Road Traders’ Association who wanted him to visit the street, saying he was pre-occupied and visit them some time later.