Motorway police flouting laws by imposing unnecessary fines
How terrible! Yesterday when I was going to Lahore in a local bus through Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, I sadly came across a mishap that shows how the concerned authorities are flouting the laws of this country. In fact, they are the main cause of every accident that happens to the people as well as the country.
This situation is alarming. Moreover, the manner in which the officers on duty in uniform are fanning the flames by making themselves part of this horrific story is nothing less than a tragedy. Overloading in public transport is strictly prohibited, especially on motorways, but authorities seem to turn a blind eye to such dire situations when their palms get greasy.
But yesterday was different. The story begins when the bus I was traveling in was stopped by on duty police officer on the M2 motorway near khangah dogran interchange. Both the conductor and the driver were approached by the officer for further investigation. The driver was asked to produce his license and identity card which he produced on the spot. Meanwhile, the officer ordered the fine collector to go and take a video of the overloaded bus. There were only five passengers who have been overloaded.
Most importantly, a fine can be imposed on an overloaded bus on a motorway only if the bus is overloaded by 18% of the total passengers. Interestingly, the police can only impose a fine of Rs. 700 in this case but today the officer imposed a fine of Rs. 6250 against five additional passengers which made the whole scene horrible.
The situation became more pathetic when the bus was fined but not allowed to ply. Perhaps the officer was investigating it on a personal note which delayed the whole scenario. The driver apologized profusely to let the bus go but the arrogant officer did not listen to him at all. He threatened the driver with a serious offense of overloading and even as half an hour was wasted without any reason.
The situation worsened and by this time half of the passengers got out of the bus and started protesting against the arrogance of the motorway police. Not to mention the small children who were crying in their mother’s arms after the tension of what will happen next?
When the protest went to the next level, the police ordered the bus to be removed from the motorway no matter what. At that point I realized that police officers have become egoistic. He told the driver that he would file an FIR against the bus and it would never be allowed on the motorway. The officer was of the view that the driver has provoked the passengers to go on strike. Somehow, the officers managed to get the bus out of the Khangah Dogran Interchange but soon allowed it back as the protests intensified.
Motorway police flouting laws by imposing unnecessary fines
One thing I am unable to understand is that when the officers stop the loaded bus and travel on them themselves, where are their rules and egoism? I have seen them do this many times. This double standard is indeed unfortunate.
This is extremely appalling. It is, therefore, the high officials of concerned authorities are deplorably requested to take serious cognizance of this horrific situation.
