Following the Lahore High Court orders, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi has directed on Friday to launch crackdown against the underage drivers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The Chief Minister has ordered to take indiscriminate action against the underage drivers who drive vehicles and motorcycles without a licence.
The Chief Minister further directed to submit daily report of action taken against underage drivers across Punjab including Lahore.
As per the court directions, Lahore CTO Mustansar Feroz has issued an order to register cases against underage drivers of cars and motorcycles. He said action would be taken against those who give vehicles to the underage children. Besides this, cases would also be registered against those who are driving cars and motorcycles without licences.
LHC proceedings
Earlier, the Lahore High Court ordered the immediate arrest of underage and unlicensed vehicle or motorcycle drivers across the city.
The court remarked that if there are 1 million vehicles on the road, only 200,000 people will be licensed.
The CTO Lahore told the court that 7.3 million vehicles are plying on the road, but only 1.3 million have licences.
The court expressed surprise remarking this is a huge difference. It wondered what the traffic police is doing in this regard? On this, the CTO Lahore said that we have increased our licence centres from 6 to 30.
The Lahore High Court on Friday heard a petition filed by an underage accused against adding the provisions of murder for the death of six members of the same family in a car accident in Defence area of Lahore caused by him.
Justice Ali Zia Bajwa heard the petition of young accused Afnan Shafqat.
During the hearing, the court inquired what crime it would be if one drives a vehicle without a licence?
At this juncture, the court summoned the Lahore CTO and SSP Operations immediately. On the court order, both appeared before the court. On this occasion, the court ordered the immediate arrest of the drivers of vehicles and motorcycles without licence.
The LHC inquired of the traffic police officer as how many people have been caught after this accident?
The CTO said that 88 people have been arrested. At 90 places, we are only checking people's licences. The centres are active for 24 hours.
The court observed that the crime was taking place mostly in posh areas. The court then asked the CTO what happened to those people who give cars to their children?
The CTO said that it is a crime according to law.
The court held that the Excise Department should also be notified. A vehicle without a licence cannot be registered in excise.
The petitioner's lawyer was of the view that the accused was arrested and Section 302 was invoked. The court held that if Section 780-A is invoked, a two-judge bench should hear it.
The court remarked that people who ride motorcycles without a licence should be arrested. This action should be taken immediately.
The court made it clear that we all agree that action should be taken against those driving without a licence. The court ordered immediate action against underage drivers and unlicensed motorcyclists.
Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister, CCPO Lahore and others were made parties on behalf of the petitioner.
It was contended in the petition that the provisions of Section 302 have been invoked illegally in the present case. The parties are violating the law and the Constitution of Pakistan.
It has been stated in the petition that the media trial of the petitioner is being conducted by the parties, the petition requested that the court summon the Punjab Chief Minister, CCPO Lahore and others in a personal capacity and the petitioner's main right of protection be ensured.
Reporters Durre Nayab, Malik Ashraf, Irshad Qureshi and Waqas Ahmad