LAHORE: A motorcycle-rickshaw driver set his three-wheeler on fire after a traffic warden issued him a ticket with heavy fine and allegedly thrashed him for protesting against ‘unnecessary fine’.

The incident occurred in the Raiwind area and a video clip of the incident, showing the motorcycle-rickshaw in flames, went viral on social media.

The owner of the rickshaw told the media that he had parked his vehicle on the roadside and was waiting for customers when the traffic warden issued him the ticket. He said he objected to his unnecessary act and told him (the warden) that he had committed no violation.

At this, he said, the traffic warden abused and slapped him in the presence of several people who had gathered, he alleged, saying that the warden had no right to beat him and this unbearable act forced him to set his rickshaw on fire. He demanded departmental action against the warden for misusing his authority. He said inflation had already made his life worse, particularly, when Eid was approaching and the practice of imposing fines repeatedly was not only unjustified but also cruel.

Lahore City Traffic Officer (CTO) Muntazir Mehdi took notice of the incident of the burning of the rickshaw by its driver and asked SP Traffic Asif Siddique to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

According to the spokesperson for the traffic police, the patrol officer asked the rickshaw driver to remove it from the main road. However, the driver got annoyed and set his vehicle on fire. The driver also tried to set himself on fire but the warden foiled his attempt. He clarified that no ticket was issued to the driver.

The CTO said that a legal action would be taken against the rickshaw move while departmental action would also be taken against the warden in the light of the inquiry report if it found him guilty.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2022