Heated Debate in Sindh Assembly Over Ajrak Number Plates

By: Aziz Khatri

KARACHI: Tensions flared in the Sindh Assembly during a session on Friday as members engaged in a heated exchange over the controversial implementation of Ajrak-themed number plates for vehicles. The opposition criticized the fines associated with the new plates as unjust, while the treasury benches stood firm, asserting that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat crime.

Opposition members voiced strong objections, arguing that they support the cultural and heritage significance of Ajrak but condemned the imposition of exorbitant penalties for those who fail to install the decorative number plates. They highlighted that this enforcement seems to be concentrated solely in Karachi, while vehicles in other regions of the province continue to operate without proper number plates.

Several lawmakers raised critical points regarding public hardships and condemned the harassment of citizens over the Ajrak number plates. There was particular outrage about notices sent to residents of derelict buildings in areas like Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Hyderabad.

MQM member Shabbir Qureshi was vocal in his criticism of what he termed the unjust fines and harassment by traffic police concerning the Ajrak plates. In response, Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani defended the initiative, noting that Ajrak number plates have included security features for the last two to three years. He emphasized the importance of identifiable registration, particularly as motorcycles are frequently involved in thefts and other crimes.

Ghani explained that the new number plates are compatible with Safe City Cameras, which have proven effective in identifying individuals illegally using government-issued vehicles. Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla added that since 2022, about one million motorcycles have been outfitted with the new plates, which reflect Sindh’s rich cultural identity. He lamented that while the Punjab government embraced Ajrak designs in public infrastructure, it has become controversial in Sindh.

Opposition member Najm Mirza weighed in, stressing that the core issue is not the Ajrak design itself, but the troubling practices being carried out under its banner, including traffic police imposing fines that can reach into the thousands.

As the debate continues, the divide between the government’s push for cultural representation and the public’s concerns over enforcement remains a contentious topic in Sindh.