Court bars unrestricted bank access to Safe City system for tracing defaulting vehicles

A court in Karachi issued important directions with regard to the use of Safe City cameras after it emerged that a private bank had used the system to trace vehicles allegedly involved in loan defaults.

An application had been filed seeking registration of a case against officials of the private bank over the alleged commercial use of the Safe City project. However, the court rejected the request for registration of a case against the bank officials.

The court directed the inspector general of police to ensure that police assistance for recovery purposes was not provided without legal authority. It further ordered that tracking or location information should only be provided on the request of a duly authorised competent authority.

The court said that a bank’s focal person would not be allowed unrestricted access to the police or Safe City system. Even where access was legally authorised, it would remain subject to prescribed security measures.

The court clarified that the bank would remain free to pursue legal proceedings before the competent forum for recovery of its outstanding dues.