ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) registered 496 cases over traffic violations in the last two weeks, a move which has raised eyebrows for penalising violators, which were earlier dealt with by imposing fines.

Police officers told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the cases were registered under section 279 of Pakistan Penal Code. The police also used other sections of the PPC in some cases.

Out of the total, 312 violations pertained to one-way driving, 102 to rash driving and speeding, 20 to lane violations, six to traffic violations, five each for three riders on a motorcycle and one wheeling, three for riding without a helmet, and one each for wrong parking, red light jumping, and underage driving. Besides, 40 cases were registered for driving without a license.

In these cases, 496 people were booked, while driving 298 motorcycles, 54 cars and 145 other vehicles.

The officers said there are fines for these violations. The red-light jumping, one wheeling, rash driving andspeeding are considered serious violations.

The police registered cases over one-way violations though many roads, including portions of Khayaban-i-Suhrwardy, Mohammad Tufail Niazi Road and AK Brohi Road in front of Police Lines Headquarters, have been closed for security, forcing the motorists to either take longer routes or drive on the wrong side. Besides, the ITP daily closed the middle lanes of highways, including Srinagar Highway at G-9 signal for hours, putting the live of motorists at risk.

The officers said in October 2025 the Islamabad High Court cautioned against the criminalisation of minor traffic violations. The court said registering a criminal case or impounding a vehicle for driving without a licence was an excessive and unlawful measure that undermined citizens’ rights and the principle of proportionality in law enforcement.

The court made the remarks while disposing of a constitutional petition, challenging the Islamabad Traffic Police’s decision to arrest and file criminal cases against citizens.

According to the officers, the practice of registering cases against drivers for traffic violations can jeopardise their (drivers’) reputation and careers. Once their names are entered in the criminal record, they will have difficulties obtaining a visa and job and admission to universities.

Even though section 279 is a bailable offence, police asked suspects to appear before court the next day for bail. The FIR registered in these cases follow a similar template – the suspects, while violating the law, endangered his own and public lives.

For traffic violations, the police take minutes to register the case and put the person behind bars. On the other hand, for the registration of an FIR in serious offences such as robberies, a complainant has to repeatedly visit the police station. When people visit a police station to lodge an FIR, the police either make different excuses in receiving the complaint or if received no legal action is initiate. If the complainant somehow succeeds to get an e-tag, the police use delaying tactics until the complainant gives up.

The officers said the practice of criminalising traffic violations under the order of senior officers was a bid to increase the ratio of FIR registration. The registration of cases in the capital fell to 29 per cent from January 1 to April 30 2026. Over the matter, the quarters concerned showed displeasure, asking an explanation from the officials concerned.

Till May 16, the police issued 25,053 e-tags but registered 7,324 cases. From May 17 to 31, the police issued 2,622 e-tags and registered 1,247 cases, including 496 over traffic violations, and the registration ratio increased to 47.55 per cent.

The SSP traffic police was approached for his comments and in response the public relations branch stated that the campaign against lane indiscipline, reckless and negligent, wrong-way driving, riding without helmets, speeding and other hazardous behaviours was necessitated as these in posed to public safety, traffic discipline, and the orderly functioning of the road network.

Such violations contribute to fatal and life-threatening accidents, congestion, inconvenience, thereby requiring a firm, structured, and sustained institutional response, it added.

The approach included the registration of FIRs in incidents involving life-threatening conduct, it noted.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026