By Staff Reporter

Karachi — In a surprising case of rule-breaking by an enforcer of the law himself, a traffic police officer in Karachi was caught using a clever yet unethical tactic to dodge the city’s electronic challan (E-Challan) system. A citizen filmed the officer riding a motorcycle with a tampered and incomplete number plate, and the video quickly went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and ridicule.

The incident occurred near Karachi Expo Center, where the citizen noticed that the officer’s motorcycle number plate had its numerical digits deliberately removed, effectively rendering it unreadable to the city’s automated traffic monitoring cameras. The E-Challan system—designed to automatically fine traffic violators through surveillance cameras—relies heavily on readable license plates to issue fines.

Ironically, the officer who is supposed to enforce traffic discipline was himself found violating multiple rules. The viral video also shows the policeman turning left while the right indicator was switched on, further highlighting a lack of adherence to basic road safety norms.

Social media users reacted sharply to the video, calling it an example of “lawlessness by the law enforcers.” Many demanded disciplinary action against the officer and urged Karachi Traffic Police to apply the same standards of accountability to their own personnel as they do to the general public.

Traffic safety activists noted that such incidents damage the credibility of law enforcement institutions and undermine public trust. “If the officers tasked with enforcing traffic rules start evading them, it sends the wrong message to citizens,” said one road safety advocate.

Officials within the Karachi Traffic Police have reportedly taken notice of the viral video. A senior police spokesperson stated that an internal inquiry will be launched to identify the officer and determine the extent of the violation. “No one is above the law,” the spokesperson emphasized. “Disciplinary action will be taken if the officer is found guilty of misconduct.”

The Karachi E-Challan system, introduced to modernize traffic enforcement through automated digital surveillance, has issued thousands of fines since its implementation. However, recent reports suggest that some motorists—and now even a few officers—have been using creative ways to evade detection, including obscuring or modifying license plates.

Public reaction to the incident has reignited debate over the accountability and ethics of traffic police, with citizens calling for greater transparency in the system and stricter internal monitoring to prevent misuse of authority.