Petition Filed in Sindh’s High Court Against Karachi’s E-Challan System

KARACHI: A citizen affiliated with a political party has challenged Karachi’s newly launched e-challan system in the Sindh High Court (SHC), raising legal and fairness concerns and challenging its legality and fairness, DAWN reported.

Petition Filed While Karachi’s E-challan System is in Full Swing

The news has developed following the Sindh government’s implementation of the e-challan system in Karachi three days ago. According to official data:

• Over Rs. 12 million worth of challans were issued within the first 24 hours of the system going live.
• The system has generated over 17,000 challans so far, including 3,895 issued yesterday.

Media reports further indicate that 25 citizens have contacted complaint centers to contest their fines.  Out of that, four individuals pledged to follow the rules going forward. Consequently, their initial challans were canceled as a one-time relief.

24 News further reported that 65 government-owned vehicles have also been fined so far, out of which 26 were police mobile vans. Therefore, it’s proven that the new system is strict and impartial, applying uniformly to all, including government and law enforcement vehicles.

The Complaint

The petitioner contends the e-challan system unfairly targets Karachi, leaving other Sindh divisions unaffected despite equal road tax contributions. He called it “hostile discrimination” against the city’s residents, even though road taxes are collected uniformly across Sindh.

He told the court that imposing heavy fines between Rs. 5,000 and  Rs. 100,000 on motorists while Karachi’s roads remain broken, unmarked, and unsafe is “arbitrary, oppressive and unconstitutional.”

Roads vs. Rules

The petition paints a grim picture of Karachi’s infrastructure —faded lane markings, non-functional signals, and pothole-ridden roads —and claims that punishing drivers under such conditions amounts to “harassment rather than regulation.”

It cites several key roads, including University Road, Sharea Faisal, Korangi Industrial Area Road, and M.A. Jinnah Road, as examples of deteriorated thoroughfares that make compliance nearly impossible.

Constitutional Violations

The petition invokes multiple constitutional provisions, e.g., Articles 4, 9, 14, 24, and 25, alleging violations of citizens’ rights to equality, fair treatment, and due process. It also argues that there is no effective appeals system to contest wrongful e-challans, forcing citizens to pay fines under pressure.

Comparing Punjab’s e-ticketing system, the petitioner noted that fines there are far lower, suggesting that Karachi’s version is more of a “revenue-collection tool” than a safety measure.

“Revenue Over Safety”

The petitioner pointed out that over Rs. 10 million in fines were collected within just six hours of enforcement, calling it an “indirect tax without lawful authority,” in violation of Article 77 of the Constitution.

Read THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PAKISTAN for more information.

What’s Being Demanded

The SHC has been asked to suspend the e-challan system until proper road infrastructure, ownership verification, and appeal mechanisms are in place. The petition seeks a declaration that the system, as currently implemented, is illegal and unconstitutional.

The Bigger Picture

Supporters argue that the e-challan initiative marks a new era of traffic discipline and transparency in Karachi, a city long plagued by chaotic driving and lax enforcement.

But with the legal challenge now before the SHC, the government faces mounting pressure to prove that the system is not just efficient, but also fair, lawful, and equitable.

For now, one thing is clear: Karachi’s roads have a new rulebook, and this time, even official vehicles aren’t spared.