SHC Rejects Immediate Suspension of Karachi’s E-Challan System
Karachi –The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday rejected requests to suspend the newly launched AI e-challan system in Karachi. The court denied an interim stay and ordered provincial authorities to submit detailed responses. The court denied an interim stay and ordered provincial authorities to submit detailed responses. The next hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, DAWN reported.
Earlier, the petitions were filed by Jamaat-e-Islami, the Karachi Bus Owners Association, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, and a private citizen in the Sindh High Court. Their main argument was that the fine structure is excessive and disproportionately targets Karachi’s motorists. Following this story, on Monday, Sindh’s Local Government Minister reaffirmed that e-challan fines would not be reduced, and now the SHC’s judgement is in support of e-challan.
Why Petitioners Are Protesting
Petitioners pointed to a major gap in penalties, comparing Karachi’s Rs. 5,000 fines for minor violations to Lahore’s Rs. 200 charges for similar offenses.
They objected to the system penalizing vehicle owners even if someone else was driving at the time of the violation.
Poor infrastructure, missing traffic signs, and a lack of designated bus stops were cited as factors that make compliance with traffic rules difficult.
The petitioners also questioned the constitutionality of proposed enforcement actions, such as blocking CNICs, suspending licenses, and impounding vehicles over unpaid fines of the e-challan system.
While acknowledging the city’s infrastructure issues, the SHC bench emphasized the need for traffic discipline. The court dismissed the comparison with Lahore, noting that “every city has its own dynamics” and cannot be directly compared.
Responding to complaints from bus operators about being fined for picking up passengers on the roadside, the court instructed them to stick to designated stops.
Lawyer countered that such stops don’t exist in many areas, a point the court acknowledged but did not accept as a basis to halt the system.
What Happens Next
The AI-driven e-challan system will remain operational. The SHC has called for a consolidated response from all involved government departments and scheduled the next hearing for December 11, 2025.
