Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has drawn public scrutiny after a video surfaced showing him riding an electric bike through the city’s streets without a helmet or a visible license plate. The footage, which began circulating on social media platforms Tuesday, captures the city’s top official navigating traffic in what appears to be a promotional or casual outing.
Traffic laws in Sindh are explicit: riders of motorized two-wheelers must wear protective headgear. Under the provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, failure to comply carries a fine and, in some cases, impoundment of the vehicle. For a mayor—the very official tasked with overseeing municipal compliance and setting the tone for public safety—the optics of the video have triggered a wave of criticism from citizens and road safety advocates.
“It’s a blatant disregard for the rules the average citizen is expected to follow daily,” said one local activist who monitors traffic enforcement. “If the mayor isn’t wearing a helmet, how can the traffic police justify ticketing a delivery rider or a student for the same offense?”
The e-bike, which lacks a license plate, also raises questions about registration requirements for the growing number of electric two-wheelers on Karachi’s roads. While the Sindh government has been pushing for green energy initiatives to combat the city’s worsening smog, the legal framework for these vehicles remains a gray area for many commuters.
Critics point out that this isn’t the first time public figures in Pakistan have been flagged for ignoring basic road safety. However, the timing is particularly poor, as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has recently been vocal about enforcing urban discipline and clearing encroachments from public spaces.
The Mayor’s office has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the viral clip or whether he intends to pay the traffic fine himself.
For now, the video serves as a reminder of the persistent gap between official policy and personal practice in the city’s leadership. Whether the traffic police will issue a challan to the mayor remains the question on the minds of many Karachiites who continue to face strict enforcement at every major intersection.
