In a startling revelation, the Karachi Traffic Police chief’s official vehicle has been declared a tax defaulter for the past eight years, exposing a glaring contradiction within the law enforcement agency responsible for penalising citizens over traffic violations.

According to Excise Department records, the official vehicle of DIG Traffic Karachi, Peer Muhammad Shah, bearing registration number SPE 950, has not paid motor vehicle tax since 2016. The department has listed the vehicle as a tax defaulter.

Ironically, the same vehicle was recently issued an e-challan for a seatbelt violation on the Garden interchange at Lyari Expressway.

The incident has sparked criticism, as it comes just days after the police announced a crackdown against tax-defaulter vehicles in the city.

While the traffic police continue to fine citizens for a wide range of violations, including seatbelt non-compliance, helmetless riding, over-speeding, wrong-way driving, signal violations, use of mobile phones while driving, and tinted windows, their own adherence to the law is in question.

In just the past five days, more than 22,870 e-challans have been issued across Karachi, amounting to millions of rupees in fines.

Citizens have expressed frustration, saying that authorities are burdening the public with heavy penalties while failing to set an example themselves.

“Those enforcing the law must first follow it,” one resident remarked, calling the revelation an example of double standards within the traffic enforcement system.