E-challan issued to Karachi hotel for vehicle missing since 1997

KARACHI: The management of a five-star hotel in Karachi has just received a shock following an e-challan over a traffic violation for a car that had been stolen 28 years ago.

The car, registered under the number AAR-540, was stolen in May 1997 from a parking lot near the Fyaz Center on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi.

It is reported that an FIR about the theft of the car was lodged on May 22, 1997, at the Saddar police station by Zahid, the employee of the hotel. Despite strenuous efforts on the part of the police, the stolen vehicle was never recovered.

However, the hotel received an e-challan last week over a traffic-related fine of the vehicle, for Rs 10,000.

The fine was connected to a number plate that had clearly been used in a traffic rule violation, while the car itself had been missing for decades.

The hotel management replied to the e-challan and confirmed they will pay the fine; however, they have added a condition that they will clear the payment once the Karachi police recover the stolen vehicle.