KARACHI — As Karachi’s AI-powered e-challan system tightens its grip on traffic rule violators, it seems some of the city’s own traffic police officers have found a way to stay one step ahead by avoiding challans themselves.
A traffic police officer recently came under public scrutiny after a video of him riding a motorcycle without a visible number plate near the Expo Center went viral on social media. The footage, captured by a passerby, shows the officer cruising on a police-issued motorbike with the registration plate deliberately faded, making it unreadable to the city’s newly installed AI cameras.
In the same clip, the officer can be seen making a left turn while his right indicator remains on a basic traffic rule violation. He was also carrying an official weapon while on duty, sparking further debate over the lack of accountability among traffic personnel.
The video has triggered widespread criticism online, with citizens calling out the hypocrisy of those tasked with enforcing traffic laws. “If the police themselves don’t follow the rules, how can they expect the public to?” one social media user remarked.
Despite the uproar, Karachi Traffic Police have yet to issue an official statement about the incident.
The controversy comes at a time when the city’s automated e-challan system has been running in full swing. In the past six days alone, more than 26,000 challans have been issued including over 3,200 in the last 24 hours mostly for violations such as not wearing helmets, jumping red lights, overspeeding, and not wearing seatbelts. Interestingly, no fines have been recorded for fancy or obscured number plates raising questions about whether some violations are being overlooked.
The incident has once again highlighted a growing concern among citizens: if technology can hold the public accountable, who will hold the enforcers accountable?
