Seatbelt violation ticket worth Rs10,000 issued for vehicle missing since 1997
In a bizarre turn of events, a well-known five-star hotel in Karachi has been slapped with a Rs10,000 e-challan for a traffic violation committed by a vehicle that was stolen 28 years ago.
Hotel officials said the car was lifted from a parking area near Sharea Faisal in May 1997, after which a theft case was lodged at the Saddar Police Station. The vehicle has never been recovered.
Despite this, the hotel recently received an electronic traffic ticket for a seatbelt violation purportedly captured at the Hub Toll Plaza.
New TRACS system triggers confusion
The fine was generated under Karachi’s newly launched Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), inaugurated on October 27.
The automated system uses AI-powered CCTV cameras to detect violations including speeding, red-light jumping, helmet non-compliance, and seatbelt misuse.
Since its rollout, TRACS has faced criticism, with many arguing that Karachi lacks the technological infrastructure needed for such an advanced monitoring system. Citizens report frequent errors in challans, inconsistent plate readings, and system glitches.
Hotel reacts with irony
Reacting to the unusual e-ticket, the hotel management expressed surprise but added a humorous twist:
They are willing to pay the fine but only if authorities first return the stolen car.
Other cases of faulty challans
This incident follows several similar complaints:
A motorbike owner received an e-challan for failing to wear a helmet on October 27 despite his bike being stolen four years earlier from the Tipu Sultan police premises, and never recovered.
Another citizen told Geo News he was issued a challan even though he committed no violation; the number plate in the photo did not match the number printed on the ticket, highlighting what he called a “blatant error.”
These repeated mistakes have intensified public concerns about the reliability of TRACS and the need for improved verification mechanisms.
