A meeting between the Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) and the traffic police chief concluded inconclusively on Saturday after three hours of talks, prompting transporters to announce the continuation of their ongoing strike. The five-member delegation, led by KTI President Haji Tawab Khan and Secretary General Muhammad Ilyas, met DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah to discuss long-standing grievances of the public transport sector.
Assurances from Traffic Police
DIG Shah assured the delegation that e-challan fines would be reviewed at the original penalty stage and that manual challans issued through mobile phone photography by traffic police would be discontinued. He also reportedly assured that the issue of vehicles impounded during protests and road blockages would be taken up with the police chief.
Unresolved Demands
However, transporters said several key demands remained unresolved, including issues related to biometric verification, insurance requirements and the release of impounded vehicles — matters they argued were beyond the DIG Traffic's jurisdiction. According to KTI Secretary General Muhammad Ilyas, "The DIG Traffic cannot resolve issues that fall under the purview of other departments. We need a higher-level meeting."
Strike Impact
The strike, which began earlier this week, has affected thousands of commuters across Karachi, with public transport services suspended on major routes. Transporters have vowed to continue the strike until all their demands are met, including the withdrawal of e-challan fines and the release of impounded vehicles. The KTI has called for a meeting with the Inspector General of Sindh Police to address the unresolved issues.
Background
The KTI has been protesting against what they call excessive fines and harassment by traffic police. The transporters argue that biometric verification and insurance requirements are causing financial strain, while the impoundment of vehicles during protests has disrupted their livelihoods. The DIG Traffic has stated that he will forward the remaining demands to the relevant authorities.
