KARACHI: Karachi’s former traffic chief, Pir Muhammad Shah, is currently under investigation over allegations of leveraging his influence in the kidnapping of a businessman, according to investigative authorities on Monday.
Sindh Inspector General Jawed Akhtar Odho reportedly demanded clarification from Shah regarding a case tied to the abduction. Investigation officials revealed that the case originally stemmed from a financial dispute, with Shah filing an FIR on December 19, 2025, against the businessman, seeking the return of over Rs310 million.
On the evening of January 14, 2026, Hyderabad Police arrived in Karachi and reportedly took custody of the businessman named in the FIR. However, he was subsequently released after intervention by members of Karachi’s trading community.
Later, the businessman filed a counter-case against Shah at Gizri Police Station on January 22. In his complaint, he alleged that while en route to his office from his DHA Phase VI residence, three individuals two of whom were dressed in what appeared to be police-like uniforms intercepted his vehicle in a white car and attempted to abduct him. According to him, the suspects demanded more than Rs310 million and even contacted his family to demand Rs300 million as ransom. The businessman claimed he was released on the same day near the highway at approximately 11:30 PM after paying Rs1 million.
Hyderabad’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) confirmed disciplinary action against those involved, stating that one Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and two constables allegedly connected to the incident had been suspended.
Pir Muhammad Shah was removed from his post as DIG Traffic Karachi last month and replaced by Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh. A government notification dated January 29, 2026, formalized Sheikh’s appointment, transferring him from his previous role as Deputy IGP at Sindh’s Central Police Office (CPO) Headquarters. The notification directed Shah to report to the Services, General Administration & Coordination Department.
Reports had earlier attributed Shah’s removal to mismanagement during a fire at Gul Plaza that caused severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas. This congestion reportedly impeded the movement of emergency vehicles, leading to widespread criticism. The deadly incident claimed at least 80 lives and triggered scrutiny over both fire response protocols and traffic control measures.
Before facing controversies, Shah gained recognition for implementing the e-challan system aimed at modernizing Karachi’s traffic management. Known as the Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), this initiative was launched on October 27 to replace manual ticketing with an AI-driven e-ticketing setup. The system employs advanced CCTV cameras to identify traffic violations such as over-speeding, red light breaches, and helmet non-compliance.
However, despite its promising goals, the system has faced criticism for being poorly adapted to Karachi’s existing infrastructure and limited resources, raising concerns about its practicality and effectiveness since its rollout.
