KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, the secretary of the home department and others on a petition filed by leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) against the recently introduced e-challan system in the metropolis.

A two-judge bench of the SHC, comprising Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Syed Fiaz Ul Hassan Shah, also put the Advocate General on notice for Nov 25.

JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar Khan, opposition leader in the City Council Advocate Saifuddin and party’s MPA Muhammad Farooq asked the SHC to suspend the operation and implementation of the e-challan system and restrain respondents from issuing, processing or recovering any penalty till the final disposal of their petition.

They submitted that the AI-based e-challan system was implemented in Karachi without ensuring necessary road infrastructure, a vehicle ownership verification mechanism and installation of proper speed limit and other essential traffic signboards.

They contended that they were aggrieved by the arbitrary notification imposing the e-challan system with exorbitant and discriminatory fines as the impugned system operated through CCTV and AI-enabled cameras, automatically detecting alleged traffic violations and issuing challans to the registered owners of the vehicles.

They also argued that coercive measures were being taken as a drastic increase in fines, blocking of CNICs, suspension of driving licences and impounding of vehicles over non-payment amount to punishment without due process of law.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2025