Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab came under public criticism after arriving at the Sindh Assembly on an electric bike without wearing a helmet, despite the Sindh government’s strict enforcement of the newly introduced e-challan system. A video of the incident quickly circulated online and sparked debate over whether public officials should also be held accountable under traffic laws.
The incident gained attention because the provincial government has recently intensified efforts to ensure motorcyclists follow traffic regulations, especially helmet rules. Under the new digital traffic monitoring system, riders violating helmet laws can receive automatic fines through electronic challans.
In the viral footage, the Karachi mayor was seen riding an e-bike to the assembly premises without any protective headgear. Speaking to reporters afterward, Wahab said riding a bike was not difficult and mentioned that he used to ride bicycles during his childhood. He explained that he had arrived at the assembly to attend an official meeting.
During the media interaction, Wahab admitted that although he holds a valid car driving licence, he currently does not possess a motorcycle licence. He further stated that he would now purchase a helmet and apply for a motorcycle driving licence to comply with the law.
The e-challan system, officially known as the Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), was launched by the Sindh government in October last year. The system was introduced to modernise traffic enforcement in Karachi by replacing manual ticketing with AI-powered monitoring technology.
As part of the project, nearly 1,200 CCTV cameras were installed across Karachi to identify violations such as over-speeding, signal breaking, and riding motorcycles without helmets. However, the initiative has received mixed reactions from citizens, with many people arguing that Karachi still lacks proper traffic infrastructure and road facilities needed for the successful implementation of such a system.
