KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has given its staff, judicial officers and lawyers seven days to remove unauthorised green number plates, official insignia and other government-related symbols from their privately owned vehicles.
The directive was issued through a circular on the instructions of Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, prohibiting the unauthorised display of green registration plates, monograms, SHC emblems, official logos, seals, stickers, badges, flags and designation markings.
The ban also extends to blue lights, beacons, revolving lights, flashers, counterfeit government and AFR number plates, concealed registration numbers and other accessories that could give the impression of official status or privileges.
However, vehicles covered under Rule 76(1) of the Sindh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Rules, 2017, have been exempted from the order.
According to the circular, the unauthorised use of such symbols and equipment poses security threats and creates a false impression of government authority and official privilege.
The high court warned that vehicles failing to comply within the stipulated seven-day period would be barred from entering the Sindh High Court, City Courts and District and Sessions Courts throughout the province.
It further directed that legal proceedings be initiated against owners of vehicles found violating the relevant laws.
Social media activists flag widespread violations
The development follows complaints by social media activists, who had approached the SHC chief justice over what they described as unchecked violations of traffic and vehicle registration laws, weak enforcement by police and irregularities within court premises.
They had raised concerns over vehicles allegedly posing as official High Court or police transport through the use of fake government and AFR registration plates.
The activists also highlighted cases in which vehicle registration numbers were concealed behind oversized plaques displaying professional designations, including “Advocate, Sindh High Court”.
They maintained that the unauthorised display of official-looking number plates, insignia and security equipment weakened respect for the law and created potential security vulnerabilities.
Clarify who the seven-day order coversMake the enforcement consequences more prominentTighten the list of banned items
