More Urgent Than E-Challan: Pakistan Needs an E-Crime Control System
By: Zaheer Ahmad Awan
The world is rapidly advancing toward digital modernization. Technology today is used to improve citizens’ safety, convenience, and quality of life.
However, in Pakistan, digitalization has largely become a tool of punishment rather than facilitation.While the government proudly introduces systems like E-Challan, traffic fines, and smart surveillance cameras, the real need of the houran E-Crime Control System that protects citizens’ lives, property, and dignity — remains missing.
A System That Punishes, Not Protects
In Pakistan, the law seems to work perfectly when it comes to collecting fines, issuing challans, or imposing penalties on ordinary citizens.But when it comes to justice, protection, or security the same system becomes silent, slow, or simply absent.For a common citizen, filing an FIR for theft, assault, land grabbing, or harassment is an exhausting process filled with bribery and influence.
Hospitals, police stations, courts, and local offices have turned into arenas of humiliation for the poor and middle class.In every civilized nation, the first duty of the state is to protect the life, property, and dignity of its people. But in Pakistan, digital cameras catch traffic violations within seconds, while crimes against humanity go unnoticed for weeks.The Real Purpose of Digital Governance Globally, digital systems are designed to serve people, not punish them.
Countries like the UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey use e-governance to simplify lives providing citizens with easy access to justice, health, education, and security.In contrast, our digital system has been limited to issuing challans and penalties.If technology can identify a speeding vehicle in seconds, why can’t it identify a criminal, a corrupt officer, or a land mafia operating openly?Pakistan urgently needs an E-Crime Control System a nationwide digital platform where citizens can report crimes online, track their cases, and receive quick, transparent justice.
The Constitutional and Moral DutyThe Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of every citizen’s life and liberty.Article 9 states: “No person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law.”Article 25 declares:“All citizens are equal before the law.”Unfortunately, these rights often exist only on paper. In practice, law enforcement serves the powerful while the weak struggle for basic justice.Islam too emphasizes justice and compassion. During the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (RA), when famine struck, punishments were suspended to ease people’s hardship.And Hazrat Ali (RA) said: “A state can survive disbelief, but it cannot survive injustice.”These timeless principles remind us that justice is the foundation of any nation’s stability.Before Taxes, Provide ReliefIn developed countries, governments first raise citizens’ living standards and only then collect taxes.
In Scandinavian nations like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, people happily pay high taxes because they receive world-class healthcare, education, and security in return.In Pakistan, however, every citizen pays indirect taxes on everything from matchboxes to milk yet receives no public service in return.Instead of relief, people get more penalties, more fines, and more frustration.Before expanding E-Challan systems, the government must first provide employment, health, and security to the people.
Digital development without social development is meaningless.A Call for Real Digital JusticeThe state’s digital priorities must change.We do not need more fines we need more fairness.We do not need more cameras on roads we need more justice in streets, hospitals, and police stations.The government should immediately establish an E-Crime Control Authority, linking police, courts, and citizens in one transparent digital network.
Every citizen should be able to file complaints, upload evidence, and receive updates in real time without bribes or fear.Justice delayed is justice denied, but in Pakistan, injustice has become automated.It is time to reverse this system to use technology not for control, but for compassion.The true purpose of law is not to punish the weak, but to protect the innocent.
Digital governance must serve the people not scare them.If Pakistan truly wants to become a modern state, it must first ensure justice and security for its citizens.
Otherwise, no number of cameras or e-challans can save a society that has already lost faith in its own system.
