ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: For once the long arm of the law proved to be really long when it caught up with a junior minister on the run in his sanctuary - the federal secretariat.

Minister of State for Communications Engineer Shahid Jameel broke a red light on Saturday. As the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) gave him a chase, the minister sped on and broke through three more red lights before sneaking into his safe haven, sources said.

Finally the ITP caught up with him in his office and served him a Rs1,300 traffic ticket. But the minister tried to wriggle out of the embarrassing situation by suggesting that the charge should be slapped on his driver who protested that he was only following the minister’s orders.

Exasperated, the ITP impounded his flag car and removed it to the Secretariat Police Station.

That left the minister no choice but to receive the ticket and handover the registration book of his car which was released after he paid the penalty.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday appreciated the performance of the traffic police and said that with its induction, the traffic had been improved in the federal capital.

Talking to newsmen at the Prime Minister’s House after presiding over a meeting of police officials, he said, more than 200 cars were being registered daily in Islamabad which was causing problems.

Prime Minister Aziz expressed the hope that after construction of new roads, the traffic system would be improved.

The prime minister said the traffic police had adopted zero tolerance and even ministers and other high officials had been fined for overspeeding.