SHC orders authorities to stop daytime movement of heavy vehicles

Author: Yousaf Katpar

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the transport secretary and Deputy Inspector General Police (DIGP), Traffic to immediately enforce the ban on movement of heavy vehicles in in the metropolis during the daytime.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar directed the DIGP Traffic to deploy extra, efficient and effective force to implement the apex court’s orders in letter and spirit and take action against the traffic violators.

Petitioner Faisal Bangali and other dwellers of the city have taken the authorities concerned to the court for failing to enforce the ban on movement of heavy traffic on roads during the daytime.

They requested the court to issue directives for the authorities to improve the public transport and introduce other alternatives to facilitate commuters and reduce burden on already present transport. The court was further pleaded to order the authority to strictly conduct fitness test of vehicles plying on the city roads.

The court issued notices to secretary transport department, local government secretary, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Karachi Development Authority, Defense Housing Authority, Clifton Cantonment Board, and Sindh Environmental Protection Agency to file their respective replies to the petition.

It also directed the transport secretary and DIGP Traffic to turn up along with detailed reports specifying the measures they have taken to stop the flow of heavy traffic on reads during the specified timings.

The petitioners contended that they were awfully perturbed by the present situation of traffic in the city which is deteriorating day by day.

They said that the apex court had passed an order directing the DIGP traffic and municipal authorities to immediately stop heavy vehicles plying on reads in daytime to maintain the smooth flow of traffic.

Subsequently, the commissioner Karachi has also banned the movement of the heavy traffic from 6am to 11pm for a period of three months.

Nevertheless, the heavy traffic was still freely plying on roads in the specific timings, taking heavy toll on the smooth flow of traffic and posing an imminent threat to lives of people, the petitioners lamented.

They said that the respondent authorities are duty-bound to enforce the court orders for the improvement of traffic and safety of the public, but they have miserably failed to discharge their duties and implement the orders.