Sindh Minister highlights vulnerability of traffic policemen amid calls for accountability

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that the most vulnerable members of society are the traffic policemen who endure long hours in temperatures reaching 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. He acknowledged that while there are good and bad individuals everywhere, it is unfair to blame the entire department for the actions of a few. Memon emphasized that traffic policemen have faced targeted attacks in Karachi in the past, yet they continue to perform their duties with great courage. He noted that blaming the entire department in any incident only serves to demoralize the officers who put their lives on the line daily.

While discussing a call attention notice in the Sindh Assembly, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, Mass Transit, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon told that From January 1 to October 30, a total of 304 challans have been issued for underage driving, resulting in the government collecting 912,000 rupees in fines. Additionally, 1,860 individuals were challaned for driving without a license, which generated 3.72 million rupees in revenue. Furthermore, 60 Chingchi rickshaws were penalized for violating traffic rules, leading to a total fine of 120,000 rupees collected.

He stated that Snap checks are conducted by the Transport Department and the Mass Transit Department, with actions being taken to address the collection of additional fares. Although Chingchi rickshaws are officially banned by the government, they continue to operate in the city due to a court injunction.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Assembly members should take a stand in court and inquire why Chingchi rickshaws are still operating in the metropolitan city despite the government’s ban.

He said that Nowadays, children are driving vehicles, and the greatest responsibility in this matter rests with the parents, Why are we turning a blind eye to this issue? If any accident happens to a child, it will be considered murder, as the accident caused by giving keys to innocent children falls under the category of murder.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that we should realize how much we follow traffic rules. In the city of Karachi, cars from showrooms are parked on the road, and they operate on a single route. The traffic policemen are tired of telling them. If the government is strict, all the associations will wake up and say that they will strike. All assembly members should spread the message in their respective constituencies not to do this; we all have to fix this together. The responsibility belongs to the government, but the duty belongs to all of us.