The Islamabad High Court on Monday directed the capital’s administration to provide relief to students and refrain from taking strict measures against them regarding the mandatory M-Tag requirement for motorcycles entering the city.
The instructions were issued by Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar while hearing a petition that challenged the enforcement of the M-Tag system for motorcyclists in Islamabad. The petition raised concerns about the difficulties faced by students due to the policy.
During the hearing, the chief justice emphasized that students should be treated with leniency and should not be subjected to unnecessary inconvenience. He pointed out that in the past, students have often been granted concessions in similar situations, and a similar approach should be adopted in this case as well.
In response to the court’s queries, the government’s legal representative explained that the M-Tag system was introduced due to security concerns. He referred to a previous incident in which a motorcycle was used in a blast near a courthouse, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals and injuries to 36 others. Following the attack, authorities implemented the M-Tag policy to enhance surveillance and security checks at entry points into the federal capital.
While acknowledging the importance of maintaining security, Chief Justice Dogar stressed that the implementation of such measures should not create undue difficulties for students. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure a balanced approach that safeguards security without causing hardship.
The court further instructed the administration to submit a detailed response on the matter. After issuing these directions, the hearing was adjourned until April 6 for further proceedings.
